Teaching Assistant Level 3 High Point Academy, Friar Park Road, Wednesbury, WS10 0JS Grade E: £26,514 - £32,789(FTE), Actual (£20,307-£25,113) plus SEN Allowance Permanent, 32.5 hours per week, Term Time Only Start Date - ASAP An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Teaching Assistant to join High Point Academy, a brand-new purpose built special free school in Friar Park, Wednesbury. Our new Academy will grow to educate up to 90 pupils aged 11-16 years with autism and moderate learning difficulties. High Point is part of Forward Education Trust, a rapidly growing Multi Academy Trust established in 2017 serving special schools across the West Midland area. The ideal candidate will have experience of supporting and assisting pupils with autism. We need staff who are confident, patient, nurturing and who want to help us to support our pupils to thrive and develop into successful young people. Successful applicants will be able to contribute to the planning and evaluation of learning activities with teaching staff in order to plan and deliver high quality educational provision for our young people. Forward Education Trust is committed to providing continuous professional development for all staff and encourage a supportive, motivating, and engaging working environment in all of our Schools. All applicants must be qualified to NVQ Level 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent and be able to evidence this. Forward Education Trust is committed to providing continuous professional development for all staff and encourage supportive,motivating, and engaging working environment in all of our Schools. Forward Education Trust is an established MAT of seven special schools based in the West Midlands, covering areas in Sandwell, Birmingham and Solihull. We are committed to recruiting and retaining the highest quality staff. To do this, we have an Employee Value Proposition offering a range of benefits to help our staff on a personal and professional level, which includes: Teacher Pension or Support Staff Local Government Pension – Employer Contribution FET HUB – information all in one place, access to a range of benefits Paid for Health Cash Plan – employee and dependent children benefit – option to add partner Employee Questionnaire – Consultation with staff on a range of issues and ideas Access to the NHS approved Thrive App – to support mental health & well-being Comprehensive induction and probation support and an ongoing performance management & appraisal system Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free, totally confidential advice, with face-to-face consultation Personal & professional learning & development – including FLICK online learning and other resources Occupational Health Service – accessible to support the needs of individual staff Staff recognition – e-cards to celebrate success among colleagues Mental Health First Aiders Policies being developed to support positive health & well-being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date. Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form. If you do not hear from the school within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. The successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role. Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to sha re this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.