Lower School Teaching Assistant

We're delighted that you're considering joining our learning community at ISL. As you consider this opportunity, we kindly ask that you apply only if you can join us on the stated start date and will be fully free from any existing contractual or notice-period obligations by that time. We appreciate your understanding. The role? At ISL, we believe our young learners are capable, curious and full of ideas. They learn through relationships, play, inquiry and meaningful exploration of the world around them. We are seeking a Lower School Classroom Teaching Assistant to assist our Grade 2 teachers (students ages 7-8) in creating caring, inclusive environments where every student feels a sense of belonging, develops agency and independence, and experiences the joy of learning. Working in partnership with the classroom teacher and wider Lower School team, the Teaching Assistant is an important resource for students and parents. What will you do? Working alongside the Grade 2 classroom teachers, you will:
• help create a caring and inquiry-rich learning environment;
• support individuals and small groups during student-initiated and teacher-directed learning;
• encourage curiosity, communication, collaboration, creativity and problem-solving;
• observe and document students' learning and emerging needs;
• prepare materials and learning spaces that invite exploration;
• support arrival, dismissal, transitions, specialist lessons, lunch, playground and other daily routines;
• help children develop positive relationships, independence and a sense of responsibility; and
• supervise and accompany students during activities, field trips and other experiences beyond the classroom. What skills do you bring? We are interested in what you can do, how you work with others and your potential to learn and grow. Your skills may have been developed through education, employment, volunteering, or community activities. You will be able to demonstrate your ability to:
• Build trusting relationships with young students, helping them feel safe, known and valued.
• Support learning through inquiry, using conversation, thoughtful questions and exploration to extend students' thinking.
• Notice and respond to learners, observing students and collaborating with the teachers to document learning and development.
• Foster agency and independence, knowing when to support, when to question and when to give students space to try for themselves.
• Support multilingual learners and communicate clearly and sensitively with students developing English as an additional language.
• Create inclusive environments that value different languages, cultures, experiences and ways of learning.
• Collaborate effectively with teachers and colleagues and build positive, professional relationships with
• families.
• Support students' wellbeing, relationships, routines, transitions and self-management in developmentally appropriate ways.
• Adapt and take initiative in the dynamic environment of a classroom.
• Reflect and grow, welcoming feedback and taking responsibility for your own professional learning. Who you are? You genuinely enjoy being with young students and see them as capable learners. You are patient, curious, dependable and proactive. You understand that learning happens throughout the day—from a student's question to developing independence during routines or navigating a disagreement with a friend. You communicate thoughtfully, value different perspectives and cultures, and know that excellent support sometimes means stepping forward and sometimes stepping back. Above all, you bring care, curiosity, collaboration and a commitment to helping every student participate, learn and belong. Our commitment to students Through this role, you will support ISL's Strategic Plan by helping deliver a Lower School programme that meets high creative and academic standards and enables students to be active, engaged and successful learners. ISL is committed to safeguarding and prioritising the wellbeing of children and young people and expects you to share this commitment. You will be expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, demonstrate sound judgement and follow ISL's child protection, health, safety and security policies and procedures. We are keen to attract applicants from diverse backgrounds, particularly those whose nationality, identity, gender or race is currently under-represented in international education. Profile: (training, experience, skills and aptitudes necessary to do the job) Required:
• A minimum of a secondary school diploma or equivalent.
• Fluency in English, with strong spoken and written communication.
• Successful experience working with children, ideally ages 7-8;
• Strong interpersonal, communication and collaboration skills;
• Confidence with digital technology relevant to the role.
• The ability to work positively and responsibly with children and adults. Valued experience includes: We value experience working with young students in educational settings, childcare, after-school programmes or other environments where children learn and develop together. Particularly relevant experience includes supporting play
- or inquiry-based learning, multilingual learners, children's social-emotional development and independence, and working collaboratively with colleagues and families in culturally diverse communities. Experience in an IB PYP or another child-centred, inquiry-based setting is an advantage, but is not essential. We recognise that strong candidates bring different experiences and pathways. We encourage you to apply if you believe your skills, approach and experience equip you to succeed in this role, even if you do not meet every preferred criterion. Among main

responsibilities:
General:
• Assist in creating a caring, positive learning environment as directed by the classroom teacher;
• Promote mutual respect and understanding among all members of the group;
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues and leadership;
• Assist in maintaining expectations of student behaviour in and out of the classroom to create a well-functioning and consistent learning atmosphere in school;
• Comply with School policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety, welfare, security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person;
• Collaborate with the classroom teacher to gather and document evidence of student learning;
• Maintain familiarity and understanding of the ISL curriculum and assist in its delivery as directed by the classroom teacher and appropriate for level of qualification;
• Support the Lower School culture of thinking;
• Be familiar with all school rules and conscientiously assist in enforcing them; Within the Classroom:
• Assist with classroom related tasks (including preparation, set-up and clearing up of materials for learning activities and supervision thereof) as directed by the classroom teacher;
• Assist the teacher at the start and end of the day welcoming and dismissing students (including taking attendance and lunch count as well as supervising students during transitions);
• Assist with large group activities and work with smaller groups on teacher-directed tasks; Outside of the Classroom:
• Supervise and escort students as they go to and from specialist lessons;
• Perform supervisory duties within other areas of the school (cafeteria, playgrounds, etc) as directed;
• Assist a student in the event of sickness or accident;
• Accompany the classroom teacher and students on field trips and other excursions outside school; Additional:
• When absent, leave information concerning daily tasks for substitute;
• Handle personal problems and grievances in a professional way as outlined within the ISL Staff Handbook;
• Model the values and professional demeanour as outlined in the ISL Staff Handbook;
• Undertake professional development as might be required by the school to better fulfil their role;
• Undertake such other duties as may be assigned by the appropriate Principal or the Director Recruitment timeline: If you are shortlisted, you will receive a notification email to book your interview. If you have not been contacted after the deadline, your application is potentially unsuccessful but, in any case, you will receive an official answer