Primary School Teaching Assistant

Full-Time Primary Teaching Assistant - Key Stage 1 & 2

Location: Derby, Derbyshire
Job Type: Full-Time
Hours: Monday-Friday, term time
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience and qualifications
Start Date: ASAP
Contract: Permanent / Fixed-Term / Temporary

About the Role

We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated Primary Teaching Assistant to join our team and support pupils across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 within primary school settings in Derby.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about working with children and wants to play an important role in supporting their learning, development, confidence and wellbeing.

The successful candidate will work closely with class teachers and other school staff to provide effective classroom support, helping pupils to engage positively with their education and reach their full potential.

You may be supporting children across a range of year groups, abilities and learning needs, so we are looking for someone who is adaptable, patient, approachable and confident working with children of different ages and abilities.

Key Responsibilities

As a Primary Teaching Assistant, your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 with their learning and development.
• Working alongside the class teacher to deliver engaging and inclusive learning activities.
• Providing individual, small-group and whole-class support where required.
• Helping pupils develop their literacy, numeracy and wider curriculum skills.
• Supporting children who may require additional help with their learning, concentration, communication or behaviour.
• Encouraging pupils to participate positively in lessons and school activities.
• Helping children develop their confidence, independence and social skills.
• Reinforcing classroom expectations and promoting positive behaviour.
• Providing encouragement and praise to help pupils build self-esteem and motivation.
• Supporting pupils during classroom activities, break times, lunchtimes and school trips where required.
• Preparing and organising classroom resources and learning materials.
• Helping maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive learning environment.
• Working effectively with teachers, SENCOs and other members of the school team.
• Following individual pupil support plans and school policies.
• Monitoring pupils'' progress and providing feedback to the class teacher.
• Supporting children with additional learning needs in accordance with their individual requirements.
• Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and safeguarding standards at all times.

Working With Key Stage 1 & 2

The role will involve working with pupils across different primary age groups, from Year 1 through to Year 6.

You should therefore be comfortable adapting your approach depending on the age and needs of the children you are supporting.

For younger pupils, this may involve helping develop early reading, writing, phonics, numeracy and communication skills.

For older pupils, you may provide additional support with subjects such as English, mathematics, science and the wider curriculum, while also helping pupils develop their independence and confidence in preparation for secondary school.

Supporting Children With Additional Needs

Experience of working with children with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) would be highly desirable.

You may be asked to support pupils with a range of additional needs, including difficulties with:

• Communication and interaction
• Literacy and numeracy
• Concentration and attention
• Social and emotional development
• Speech and language
• Behaviour and emotional regulation
• Learning and cognition

You do not necessarily need extensive SEND experience, but you must have a genuine willingness to learn and adapt your approach to meet individual pupils'' needs.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about working with children
• Patient, calm and approachable
• Kind, caring and supportive
• Enthusiastic about education and learning
• Confident communicating with children and adults
• Able to build positive relationships with pupils
• Able to work effectively as part of a team
• Reliable, punctual and professional
• Flexible and adaptable
• Able to remain calm and positive in challenging situations
• Confident supporting children with different abilities and needs
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting children''s welfare
• Able to follow instructions and school policies
• Proactive and willing to get involved in all aspects of school life

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who genuinely wants to make a positive difference to children''s lives.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience working with children is desirable.
• A genuine interest in working within a primary school environment.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work effectively with teachers and other school staff.
• A patient and positive approach to supporting children''s learning and behaviour.
• Commitment to safeguarding and child protection.
• The ability to work with children from a range of backgrounds and abilities.
• A willingness to undertake relevant training and professional development.

A relevant Teaching Assistant qualification, such as a Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification, would be advantageous but is not essential where the candidate has relevant experience.

Desirable Experience

The following experience would be particularly beneficial:

• Previous experience as a Teaching Assistant.
• Experience working within a primary school or nursery environment.
• Experience supporting Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2 pupils.
• Experience working with SEND pupils.
• Experience supporting phonics, reading, writing or mathematics.
• Experience managing or supporting positive behaviour.
• Experience working on a one-to-one basis with children.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Relevant qualifications in education, childcare, youth work or supporting learning.

What We Can Offer

We can offer the successful candidate:

• A rewarding full-time role working with primary-aged children.
• The opportunity to work across Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
• A supportive and welcoming school environment.
• Opportunities to develop your skills and experience within education.
• Support from experienced teachers and school staff.
• Opportunities for relevant training and professional development.
• The chance to make a genuine difference to pupils'' educational and personal development.
• A varied and engaging working environment where no two days are the same.

Safeguarding

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All successful applicants will be required to undergo appropriate pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check, and provide suitable references. Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory completion of all required checks.

The successful candidate will be expected to uphold the school''s safeguarding policies and procedures and contribute to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for every child.

How to Apply

If you are enthusiastic about working with children and believe you have the skills, commitment and positive attitude required for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and a short covering statement explaining why you are interested in the role and what experience you can bring to the position.

Start date: As soon as possible

Join our team and help us inspire, support and empower the next generation of learners.

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