Responsible to: Deputy Head of Dame Bradbury's
Location: Dame Bradbury's, Saffron Walden
Role Description
This is a dynamic, multi-faceted role at Stephen Perse, primarily focused on inspiring a love of learning by making the library the heart of the school community, particularly as a quiet, calm wellbeing space for children during break and lunchtimes, where they can explore books and various media. Beyond library duties, the role requires the individual to serve as a Teaching Assistant supporting children in lessons and to actively contribute to the school's wider co-curricular program through involvement in areas like music, performing/creative arts, or sports/clubs' enrichment.
This role provides the opportunity to support the wider co-curricular offering of the school.
Main Responsibilities:
Library responsibilities include:
● To foster a love of reading and a strong desire in children to enjoy a wide variety of genres across the 3–11-year-old age range.
● To have sound knowledge of children's literature, including what is being published currently, in order to guide children towards reading fiction and non-fiction, from a range of authors.
● To inspire children to read by organising special age-appropriate events across the age ranges; these could include reading challenges, bookathons, House competitions and author visits.
● To work with the children and teaching staff in such a way that individual children's reading abilities and tastes become known and are catered for appropriately.
● To encourage teaching staff to use the library as flexible learning spaces where they can.
● To promote reading through a variety of activities, using books, digital tools, newspapers etc, and facilitate the creation and performance of pupil generated material, such as stories, poems and plays.
● To support staff in finding theme related texts to have in classrooms, or easily accessible in the library, to match their half-term topic.
● To support the maintenance, management and organisation of independent reading books that are stored in classrooms and taken home, primarily in Years 1 and 2.
● To keep staff informed of new books, publications and resources which will maintain the high profile of reading in all schools and to support teaching and learning in other ways, e.g. sourcing new materials for integrated topics and projects.
● To look for opportunities to invite authors, speakers and workshops into the schools and to take a lead in the smart organisation of such events, eg. author visits linked to book shops, book festivals etc.
● To support initiatives relating to national/international events (eg. World Book Day, Poetry Day, Commonwealth Day), current affairs, cultural diversity and one-off school occasions through displays, reading sessions and special library events.
● To provide advice and guidance on the purchase of new stock and effective ways of regularly rolling this across the schools with attention to age appropriateness.
● To liaise with other librarians within and beyond Stephen Perse, especially in the Senior School with a view to smooth transition for readers.
● To manage online calendars to support maximum use of the library in being used flexibly.
Teaching Assistant responsibilities to include:
● To work with teachers to establish an appropriate learning environment.
● To monitor and evaluate pupils' responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against predetermined learning objectives.
● To use specialist (curricular/learning) skills to support pupils.
● To assist with the development and implementation of Personal Education Plans (PEPs) as appropriate.
●To establish productive working relationships with pupils, acting as a role model and setting high expectations.
● To promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils within the classroom.
●To support pupils consistently whilst recognising and responding to their individual needs.
● To encourage pupils to interact and work cooperatively with others and engage all pupils in activities.
● To promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement and self-reliance.
●To implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupils' responses/needs.
●To implement any new initiatives or interventions that need to be utilised to support positive pupil outcomes.
● To provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement.
● To provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required, to the teacher on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence.
●To be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to the review of systems/records as requested.
Other general responsibilities may include:
●Assist in coaching a variety of sports including swimming (swimming teaching experience/qualification desirable).
● Support PE/Games lessons where required across all year groups.
● Where required to take an active part in the extra‐curricular life of the school, supporting clubs before school and during lunchtimes.
● Support integrated learning and curriculum days as directed.
● Organisation of equipment in preparation for lessons and fixtures when supporting.
● Support children at lunchtimes with healthy eating choices.
● Supervise and ensure calm lunchtimes.
● Support and guide pupils at the start and finish of lunch routines.
● Communicate with staff and pupils to ensure a smooth lunch transition process.
● Assist in establishing and maintaining a calm, happy, purposeful atmosphere in late stay.
● Encourage pupils to complete homework assignments and to assist as required.
● Administer first aid if required.
● Interact with pupils and assist in organising activities for those who have completed their homework.
● Liaise with parents, carers and staff, if necessary to ensure the safety of every pupil leaving the late stay facility.
General Responsibilities
● Act as an excellent ambassador for Stephen Perse at all times.
● Build and maintain good working relationships with all Stephen Perse colleagues.
● Assist as necessary in other Stephen Perse areas at peak times.
●Work at all times towards the aims and goals of Stephen Perse and any individual objectives and targets you may have agreed.
● Proactively identify areas for improvements within Stephen Perse.
●Actively promote Stephen Perse Equal Opportunities Policy, encouraging staff awareness and participation in all areas.
● Act in accordance with the Data Protection principles at all times.
●Adhere at all times to Stephen Perse operational and employment policies and procedures.
● Take care of your own health and safety and that of people who may be affected by what you do (or do not do).
● Cooperate with others on health and safety, and not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided for your health, safety or welfare.
●Follow the training you have received when using any work items Stephen Perse has provided.
● Adhere to Stephen Perse's Privacy Notice and ensure private and confidential data is kept secure and disposed of in the appropriate manner.
This job description is not necessarilycomprehensive and the position holder will be required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post.
Safeguarding and welfare of children
The post holder's responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with Stephen Perse's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy statement at all times. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the role-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the School, s/he must report any concerns to the School's Designated Person or the Stephen Perse Designated Safeguarding Lead.
All employees of Stephen Perse adhere to the Safer Working Practices guidance and all teaching staff are required to adhere to the Teaching Standards which can be found on the government website.
Terms and conditions
All appointments for Stephen Perse are subject to satisfactory reference and disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks, suitability to work with children checks, online checks, proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK, completion of a medical questionnaire and proof of qualifications.
Hours of work
08:00-16:30, Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week. This role is term time only, working 35.2 weeks per year (to include 5 INSET days).
Salary
£22,572 per annum (£26,691 FTE). Please note this salary will be pro rated as this is starting part way through the academic year.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £26,691.00 per year
Benefits:
* Canteen
* Cycle to work scheme
* Discounted or free food
* Free flu jabs
* Free parking
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 05/01/2026