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Pupil Support Assistant (Junior School)
Job Reference schooltalent/TP/105/2079
The job has expired.
Package Description
Location: George Watson’s College, Edinburgh
Contract Type: 27 hours per week, 44 weeks per year
Salary: £17,073 - £19,052 (Based on 27 hours per week, 44 weeks per year)
Benefits: Automatic enrolment in the contributory support staff defined contribution pension scheme, reduced school fees at George Watson’s College for children of staff, Membership of the Galleon Club (the school’s fitness club)
The Role
George Watson’s College wishes to appoint a Pupil Support Assistant in our Additional Support for Learning Department within the Junior School. To provide personalised and holistic 1-1 and/or small group assistance to pupils with a range of physical, emotional, social, behavioural or learning additional needs in order to enable them to have a rich and fulfilling educational experience at the School. To directly provide support to any assigned pupils in all school activities while simultaneously encouraging their independence and protecting their dignity.
Hours of work will be 27 hours per week, working 8:15am – 3:30pm (including a 30 minute unpaid break) for 4 days per week. One of the working days will be a Friday. This position is term time only (36 weeks plus professional learning days). The annual leave entitlement is seven weeks per year making a total of 44 weeks. The salary for this position will be in the Grade 2 range which currently stands at £27,090 - £30,231 per annum (based on 36.25 hours per week, 52 weeks per year). This equates to £17,073 - £19,052 per annum for 27 hours and 44 weeks.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please click the Apply button. Please include a letter of application of not more than 800 words giving us more information about you and why you would like the role, addressed to Mrs Pippa McCallum, Principal Teacher, Additional Support for Learning.
Closing date: Thursday 11 September 2025
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Thursday 18 September 2025
Main Responsibilities
Supporting Learning and Teaching Activities:
To support excellent standards of learning and teaching and encourage independence and improvement by recognising and responding to the unique needs and developmental requirements of each child.
To assist teaching staff in supporting pupils with specific learning needs to access the curriculum and promote inclusion and accessibility to the school experience.
As directed by the teacher, and depending on the particular needs of each student, this may include a range of tasks such as:
- helping them with their organisation of classroom work and participation in learning activities, including managing behaviour and keeping them on task
- preparing for classroom activities and setting up learning support materials, technology and equipment
- helping students understand verbal or written instructions or explaining/reinforcing key learning points
- reading, taking notes or scribing for students in class or during exams
- supporting them with communication and discussion work, including the use of augmentative communication equipment, if appropriate
- providing feedback to the pupil to maintain motivation and enhance self-esteem
Supporting personal care, mobility and health and welfare needs:
To attend to the individual personal care, health and medical needs of pupils, assisting them in maintaining a safe, health and hygienic environment whilst at School, enabling them to function at their full potential.
To support individual care plans and health and safety requirements for students by helping with a range of planned procedures such as emergency/fire evacuations, anticipated medical emergencies (e.g. asthma).
Depending on the particular needs of each student and their learning/care plan, this may include a range of tasks such as:
- encouraging and promoting independence and providing assistance with toileting, dressing/undressing, and feeding themselves
- assisting students with personal care or medical requirements (e.g. ???)
- supporting and promoting independence to students making use of wheelchairs or walking aids, visual and hearing aids etc
- escorting them to/from class and settling them in the learning environment
Supporting behavioural and emotional needs:
To support and reinforce positive behaviour management strategies for each allocated student, guiding their behaviour and helping them to demonstrate good standards of conduct in line with School policies and routines (e.g. timekeeping, homework, dress code, dignity and respect).
To support a range of behavioural and emotional needs, for example, by offering praise and encouragement to pupils, assisting them in building and maintaining trust, supporting their ability to make choices, promoting positive interaction and cooperative working with other pupils, acknowledging feelings and supporting appropriate expression of emotions, etc.
To help teachers in maintaining any associated records of behavioural patterns, observations of changes in behaviour, welfare concerns etc.
To provide a range of support to students participating in learning and teaching activities outwith the classroom, e.g. recreational/social activities, drama or music rehearsals or shows, school trips, and swimming and sport/PE lessons etc.
Supporting administration, planning and review activities:
To contribute to support for learning team and individual student plans, written records of pupil progress, and individual risk assessments, supporting teachers with the collection and maintenance of information, as required.
As directed by teaching staff, contribute to planning and reporting review meetings for students with additional support for learning needs.
To positively interact with parents and carers and respond to their comments, suggestions or concerns, ensuring onward communication of information to relevant teaching or other support staff in line with appropriate confidentiality requirements.
To carry out other reasonable ad hoc duties as directed by members of the Additional Support for Learning (ASL) or School management team.
To participate positively in team meetings and in appropriate continuous professional development events for ASL staff by attending training courses, giving and receiving feedback, maintaining knowledge etc.
The Ideal Candidate
Essential:
- Previous demonstrable experience in a similar role supporting individual pupils with learning and physical needs
- Appropriate academic qualifications that would enable successful support as a scribe
- Good oral and written communication skills
- Good interpersonal and listening skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Competent in use of technology, Microsoft Office, Google etc
- Highly empathy and patient
- Proactive and intuitive
- Adaptable and resilient to cope with the demands of role
- Flexibility to provide cover as required for trips, outings, evening rehearsals/shows
Desirable:
- Experience in an educational or learning setting
- A related qualification such as an HNC Childhood Practice, SVQ Social Services, or equivalent in a Care related subject
About the school/organisation
George Watson's College sits in the heart of Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, providing a world-class education for children and young people from Preschool to Senior 6.
We encourage our pupils to develop a love of learning through an inspiring curriculum and an extensive and inclusive enrichment programme, which are underpinned by the four values we live by: aim high, be kind, join in and respect all.
Our school is a place where pupils have the freedom to thrive, succeed, explore, perform, and grow, giving them the opportunity to discover their own limitless potential.
Preschool, junior and senior pupils all learn and play on the same 52-acre campus, where our sports facilities, music school, art department, technology building and drama studios are within walking distance.
We offer our pupils one of the widest extra-curricular programmes you will find anywhere, plus the opportunity to travel internationally during their time with us, and a broad range of learning experiences outside the classroom.
Digital technology supports and enhances learning, with every pupil encouraged to use their device where it adds real value to developing skills and critical thinking.
Our school has an enviable reputation for the breadth of opportunities pupils have to get active, with around 25 different sports available to both girls and boys. Participation, excellence, professionalism and equality are the four cornerstones of our physical education and sport department here at Watson's.
When it comes to music and drama, our pupils are given the opportunity to co-produce stunning shows, delivering memorable performances that live long beyond school days.
Most importantly, the wellbeing of our pupils matters to us more than anything else. There are various ways we support pupils to proactively manage their mental health, while a range of peer-led programmes has created a culture in which we can all play our part.
All this means that when the sun shines we celebrate the happy moments, and when it doesn't we're there to protect and support, just as our motto says: ex corde caritas - love from the heart. www.gwc.org.uk
