Teaching Assistant

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.
We are pleased to inform you that the British Council School in Madrid, Spain, is advertising for the post of
Teaching Assistant
for its Early Years section. This post will be a temporary, full time local contract starting in January 2025 to cover a long-term leave of absence (excedencia).
This post is being advertised internally and externally.
Key Dates
Closing date for Applications: 8th December 2024, 23:59 Madrid time
Shortlisting and Interviews: Week of 9th December 2024
Role support
To support the class teachers in teaching and learning and the care and well being of the children in Early Years from Pre-Nursery to Year 1.
To be a member of a large department of teachers and practitioners, following the Foundation Stage and English National Curriculum guidelines.
To work as a member of the team ensuring high quality education and experience and to support the team in achieving excellent outcomes.
Role context
The School is uniquely well positioned to meet the British Council core purpose: “We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language.”
The British Council works with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with. We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Main accountabilities
Teaching and learning
Teaching assistants are expected to:

• Demonstrate an informed and efficient approach to teaching and learning by adopting relevant strategies to support the work of the teacher and increase achievement of all pupils including, where appropriate, those with special educational needs and disabilities.
• Promote, support and facilitate inclusion by encouraging participation of all pupils in learning.
• Use effective behaviour management strategies consistently in line with the school’s policy and procedures.
• Contribute to effective assessment and planning by supporting the monitoring, recording and reporting of pupil progress as appropriate to the level of the role.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with pupils to adapt to their needs and support their learning.
• Maintain a stimulating and safe learning environment by organising and managing physical teaching space and resources.

Pupil Wellbeing
Teaching assistants are expected to:

• Encourage children to eat well.
• Change and clean children.
• Help the class teacher ensure that the physical and emotional needs of the children are catered for and to take measures to ensure their health and safety at all times, including break and lunch times.

Knowledge and understanding
Teaching assistants are expected to:

• Demonstrate expertise and skills in understanding the needs of all pupils (including specialist expertise as appropriate) and know how to adapt and deliver support to meet individual needs.
• Share responsibility for ensuring that their own knowledge and understanding is relevant and up to date by reflecting on their own practice, liaising with school leaders and accessing relevant professional development to improve personal effectiveness.
• Demonstrate a level of subject and curriculum knowledge relevant to their role and apply this effectively in supporting teachers and pupils.
• Understand their roles and responsibilities within the classroom and whole school context recognising that these may extend beyond a direct support role.

Working with others
Teaching assistants are expected to:

• Recognise and respect the role and contribution of other professionals, parents and carers by liaising effectively and working in partnership with them.
• With the class teacher, keep other professionals accurately informed of progress or concerns they may have about the pupils they work with.
• Understand their responsibility to share knowledge to inform planning and decision making.
• Understand their role in order to be able to work collaboratively with classroom teachers and other colleagues, including specialist advisory teachers.

Personal and professional conduct
Teaching assistants should uphold public trust in the education profession by:

• Having proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they work as professional members of staff.
• Demonstrating positive attitudes, values and behaviours to develop and sustain effective relationships with the school community.
• Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ wellbeing by following relevant statutory guidance along with school policies and practice.
• Upholding values consistent with those required from teachers by respecting individual differences and cultural diversity.
• Committing to improve their own practice through self-evaluation and awareness.

Role specific skills
Classroom Management :
Is able to engage all students throughout the lesson, incorporating individual learning and play plans. Is able to effectively differentiate the learning of individuals and groups within the whole class setting.
Manages learner behaviour by establishing and maintaining a clear positive behaviour framework in the classroom.
Subject Knowledge and Delivery:
Demonstrates excellent subject knowledge and can communicate this effectively. Is able to share knowledge and expertise with others.
Is an excellent classroom practitioner.
Understanding Your Learners:
Is able to identify individual learning needs and implement appropriate strategies. Is able to both support lower ability children and challenge higher ability children.
Has knowledge and understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion in teaching.
Learning Technologies:
Is familiar with the use of the active panel in the classroom and Teams. Encourage students to use ICT independently.
Use the School Intranet to provide resources for students to use at home and to share resources with other staff.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• A minimum of 1 academic year’s recent and relevant experience within the last 5 years in the UK, international or bilingual school with children aged 5 and under.
• Knowledge of the EYFS curriculum.

Desirable

• Experience working with children 0-3 years old.
• EYFS experience in the UK.

Languages
Essential

• English to the level of, or a level comparable to, C1 CEFR communicator.
• A commitment to learning Spanish and to achieving Common European Framework of Reference levels progressively.
• Relevant language certifications/experience to be indicated in Application Form and CV. Language Tests may be required. If no certifications are available, employee may be hired conditional to the achievement of the Essential level certification within a 12 month period.

Desirable

• English to the level of, or a level comparable to, C2 CEFR communicator.
• Spanish to the level of, or a level comparable to, B2 CEFR communicator.

Education, Certification and Professional Qualifications
• Certificate/diploma in child development/Early Years learning
and/or
• Técnico Especialista superior en Jardín de infancia or equivalent.
Additional role requirements
• Proof of Identity requirements/right to work in country: Candidates are expected to have researched whether they have the right to live and work in Spain. The British Council School of Madrid welcomes international candidates and will support successful applicants in obtaining a work visa.
• Other requirements: There are occasional trips and performances locally and members of staff are required to accompany students.
British Council Values and Behaviours
British Council Values and Behaviours are applicable across our organisation, in all roles and at all levels. They are important because they say what we stand for at the British Council and help us to deliver our strategy. We use them to guide our decision making, as well as guiding how we treat one another and the people we work with. These will be assessed in the selection process.
Our values are:
Open and Committed; Expert and Inclusive; Optimistic and Bold.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement
The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment. We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability. All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
If you have any problems with your application please email

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.
#J-18808-Ljbffr