Job title: ArtForms Music Centre Teaching Assistant (2 posts)

Salary: £24,480 – £25,989 pro rata equates to £12.69 – £13.47 hourly rate

Hours: 3.5hrs p/w; all hours in this role are on Saturday mornings

One post working across South Leeds and Rothwell; one working in Wetherby (may initially be in Horsforth)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Various, see above    

Do you love music and enjoy working with young people? Join our team as a Music Centre Teaching Assistant in ArtForms Music Centres and help inspire the next generation of musicians! 

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Music Centre Teaching Assistant you will be expected to:

• Support music teachers and tutors in lessons and rehearsals

• Help with planning and cover lessons when required 

• Help students with instruments and encourage participation

• Prepare classrooms and maintain equipment

• Provide excellent customer care to pupils and families

About the role

• Passion for music and ability to play at least one instrument to a high standard 

• Great communication and teamwork skills

• Experience working with children or young people in an educational or community setting 

• Commitment to safeguarding and inclusion

The role is integral to our Music Centre team, which, through our 5 music centres, brings our offer of high quality music tuition into local community locations around Leeds

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about this role please contact Sarah Truscott. Call 0113 37 82850 or email sarah.truscott@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose To support the delivery of high-quality music provision by assisting teachers and students during lessons, rehearsals, and performances. The Teaching Assistant will help create an inclusive, engaging, and safe learning environment for learners of all ages and abilities.  

Responsibilities  

• Assist with lesson delivery, including instrument setup, pack-down and maintenance, and cover lessons  
• Contribute to lesson planning and maintain accurate records of pupil progress and achievements, supporting the tutors in uploading data to Eepos  
• Support the teacher in managing pupil learning and behaviour during classes, rehearsals and performances, reporting difficulties as appropriate 
• To promote inclusion through being aware of and supporting difference to ensure all pupils have equitable access to opportunities to learn and develop 
• Provide excellent customer care to pupils and families and gather/report information from/to parents/carers as directed  
• To be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and wellbeing, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person 
• To attend relevant meetings as required 
• To participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required 

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post. 

Qualifications 

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

• Grade 8 standard on one or more instruments 
• A Levels, or other Level 3 qualifications  

 Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics  

• Understand and embraceLeeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct. 
• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambitionof Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon 
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities. 
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council. 
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post.  Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.  

• Prior experience working with children in an educational or community setting 
• Broad knowledge of instrument families and ability to read music fluently 
• First Aid and Safeguarding training 
• Ability to travel between sites if required 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work flexibly and as part of a team 
• Ability to lead small group activities or rehearsals