HT TPS:// WWW.A MES BURYSCHOO L.CO.UK/ Reading Support Specialist Dear Prospective Applicant, Strong literacy skills are fundamental to unlocking lifelong learning and employment opportunities for all children. At Amesbury, we believe that fostering a love of reading and literacy is at the heart of educational success. We are currently seeking a dedicated and passionate Reading Support Specialist who will play an important role in our academic community, inspiring our Years 3 - 5 students to love reading and supporting their literacy development. Amesbury Prep School, nestled in the beautiful countryside near Hindhead, Surrey, is a vibrant co-educational preparatory school catering to approximately 330 children aged between 9 months and 13 years. Our school prides itself on providing a friendly and inclusive environment where staff members embody a 'work hard, play hard' ethos. While we strive for excellence and embrace healthy competition in our educational endeavours, we also uphold values of compassion, inclusivity, and social responsibility. This is a part-time role, and the working hours will be agreed with the successful candidate. If you are passionate about fostering a love of reading and literacy and share our commitment to providing a holistic and enriching learning experience for our students, we warmly invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity. An application form can be found at Careers - Amesbury School School Aims Our primary aim at Amesbury Prep School is to ensure that every child enjoys a fulfilling and enriching educational journey. We strive to create an environment where each student feels valued, supported and empowered to reach their full potential. Specifically, our goals include: 1. Equipping every child with the skills, aptitudes and resilience necessary for success in senior school and beyond. 2. Cultivating a caring community that promotes commitment, courtesy, cooperation, tolerance and compassion. 3. Fostering strong partnerships between home and school to enhance the educational experience. 4. Setting a high standard of achievement and innovation, while nurturing personal development among staff. 5. Fulfilling our social and environmental responsibilities to society. Person Specification As a Reading Support Specialist, you will ideally: 1. Possess excellent verbal and digital communication skills to effectively represent our school to parents, staff and pupils. 2. Demonstrate empathy, understanding and patience in interactions with pupils, parents and staff, fostering a supportive and nurturing environment. 3. Work well both independently and collaboratively, fostering a spirit of teamwork and cooperation among colleagues and reading support specialists. 4. Adapt your approach to meet the needs of different pupils and various situations, ensuring tailored support for individual reading and literacy development. 5. Have a good knowledge of children's literature and literacy development, inspiring a passion for reading and learning among pupils. 6. Display keen pastoral intuition, understanding the diverse needs of pupils and providing appropriate support to foster their growth and development. 7. Embrace and embody the ethos and values of the school, maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct and promoting a culture of respect and inclusivity. 8. Approach your work with professionalism, enthusiasm and pride, consistently striving for excellence in your role and inspiring others through your dedication to literacy and education. Specific Responsibilities • Help to ensure progression in reading skills for pupils in Years 3-5 through the bespoke 1:1 reading programme. • Actively listen to specific children read, providing encouragement and productive feedback. • Efficiently help to manage reading materials, including books, periodicals and comprehension resources. • Help to monitor pupil progress in reading. • Assist in accurately assessing pupil reading ability to provide engaging reading material at the appropriate level. • Maintain timely and targeted communication with parents through reading records. • Carry out supervisory duties at break and lunchtime, as required. Child Protection/Safeguarding Amesbury is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and undergo enhanced DBS checks. If you require any further information or wish to discuss the role in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me. We look forward to welcoming a dynamic and passionate individual to our team. Warm regards, Gavin Franklin