The Specialist Teaching Team within the SEN team at City of York Council are looking to appoint  a Teaching Assistant to work within the Vision Support Team starting as soon as possible.

This TA will work alongside the Teachers of Vision Impairment to promote the development and learning of children and young people aged 0 – 25 years who are either blind or have a vision impairment that impacts on access to education, to support progress towards educational and social outcomes.

We are looking for a colleague who has:

• Considerable experience of working in mainstream schools with CYP with a range of SEND

• The ability to work in an outreach role in settings across the City demonstrating initiative and a confidence to problem solve.

• As vision impairment is a low incidence disability, applicants may not have had direct experience of working with children and young people with VI. However, they will be able to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in relation to supporting children with a range of SEN and be positive and motivated to further develop their knowledge of Vision Impairment

• Knowledge of how specialist resources, hardware and software can be used to support children and the ability to learn how to use those used by children with visual impairments. Confidence to problem solve when hardware, software and specialist technology have problems is essential.

• The ability to train and support parents and staff in schools and other settings in the use of specialist resources.

• Experience of the use of Braille to prepare specialist resources or the willingness to learn in order to complete a Unified English Braille certification.

The Council is highly committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Abi Hall, Senior Teacher, Vision Support, abi.hall@york.gov.uk 

Closing date:  Thursday 7 September 2023 at 12 midnight

Interview date:  Friday 15 September 2023