Teaching and Bus Assistant

Role Overview

Teaching and Bus Assistant at International Schools Partnership. The role combines classroom support and student transportation duties at a school location.

Role Purpose

To provide essential support to teaching staff in classroom operations, student supervision, and safe transportation of students to and from school while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, professionalism, and student welfare.

Key Responsibilities

Classroom Support and Lesson Preparation

• Contribute to lesson planning and assessment processes including organization and management of books and files for individual children.
• Prepare materials and equipment for class lessons, group work, or individual children.
• Prepare ICT equipment such as computers, iPads, digital cameras, DVDs, and Bee Bots.
• Prepare Art and Craft materials and tidy them away.
• Laminate and photocopy materials and resources.
• Label and store equipment appropriately.

Student Supervision and Support

• Lead and assist groups of children or individuals with their tasks.
• Read stories to groups of children.
• Supervise children using the cloakroom, toilets, playtimes, and at start and home times, especially during transition periods.
• Participate daily in the rota providing playground supervision at playtimes and supervising at transition times.
• Comfort young distressed and vulnerable children in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
• Mount and display children's work appropriately.

Bus Operation and Student Transportation

• Transport children to school by picking up children at assigned stops and instructing them when it is safe to board the vehicle.
• Establish and follow loading and unloading procedures.
• Maintain safe conditions while traveling by enforcing safety and discipline rules and following all vehicle and driving laws as outlined by the School and Department of Transport.
• Complete daily pre- and post-trip inspections for safety and security by inspecting and documenting vehicle logs prior to completing daily shift.
• Take daily attendance of students.
• Physically check the bus after every trip to ensure no child is left behind.
• Provide assistance to students in fastening seatbelts and ensure they are properly strapped in throughout the journey.
• Ensure all students are seated at all times on the bus.
• Oversee student behavior within the bus and intervene during untoward incidents such as bullying.
• Report any delays in pickup or drop-off to parents.
• Prepare reports such as attendance, schedules, and student information.

Emergency Response and Documentation

• Implement emergency plan in the event of an accident.
• Appropriately administer to the needs of members on-board and administer first aid.
• Complete accident reports and documentation for all accidents or incidents that occur on the bus.

Health, Safety, and Safeguarding

• Emphasize the importance of safety in all areas of the curriculum, communicating to pupils the importance of responsible attitudes towards personal safety and respect for school property and equipment.
• Safeguard school students.
• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities.
• Assist in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct.
• Ensure all necessary health and safety rules and procedures are being followed.
• Maintain awareness of all health and safety measures to be taken when in school.
• Maintain confidentiality about personal details revealed by children.
• Report incidents to the Teacher or Head of Early Years in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy.

Professional Conduct and School Representation

• Maintain and promote the school's professional reputation.
• Treat students with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect and observing proper boundaries appropriate to a professional position.
• Show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others.
• Not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
• Ensure personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit students' vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
• Maintain high standards of ethics and behavior within and outside school.
• Have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies, and practices of the school.
• Maintain high standards in attendance and punctuality.
• Have understanding of and always act within the cultural expectations of UAE and the policies and expectations of the school.
• Be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to visitors and telephone callers.
• Comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of similar level not specified in this job description.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum diploma or equivalent qualification.
• At least 2 years' school experience as a bus or teacher assistant.

Skills & Competencies

• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent communication skills and command of the English language in spoken and written form.
• Strong sense of professionalism.
• Safeguarding and welfare of children.
• Behavior management.
• Collaborative team-player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Willing attitude to be part of the school team.
• Empathetic listener.
• Integrity and confidentiality.
• Internationally minded.
• Emotional intelligence.
• Intercultural awareness and creativity.
• Flexible with a can-do attitude.

Additional Information

ISP Principles

ISP begins with children and students at the heart of what it does; their success is the school's success. Wellbeing and safety are essential for learners and learning. ISP treats everyone with care and respect, embracing similarities and differences and promoting well-being of self and others. ISP operates effectively by focusing on things that matter most and applying school policies and procedures. ISP makes financial choices carefully based on the needs of children, students, and schools. ISP learns continuously, with getting better driving the organization; staff positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

Safeguarding and Vetting

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references, and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years' employment history.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening its inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background, or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share ISP's vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.