Vacancy: Senior Early Years Teaching Assistant

School
Castle Mead School
Job reference
CM/SEYTA
Closing date
9.00am on 13 July 2022
Interview date
To be confirmed
Start date
1 September 2022
Contract type
Permanent
Salary
F9 to H17 dependent on qualifications, skills and experience (£11.02 to £12.92 per hour)
Hours
2 days: 7.45am – 4.15pm
2 days: 8.45am – 5.00pm
1 day: 8.45am – 4.15pm
Monday – Friday
Term-time only (plus 5 TD Days a year, and one additional week)
Location
Mascroft Road, Trowbridge BA14 6GD
Role overview
We have a vacancy at Castle Mead School in Trowbridge for a Senior Early Years Teaching Assistant. The successful candidate will join a strong friendly team, whose vision for children’s individual needs is at the heart of every aspect of school life – every child matters. The Nursery at Castle Mead School cares for 2 – 4 year olds, and accepts Universal and Extended funding. There is also the provision of a breakfast club and after school club which are paid-for services for parents who need longer childcare days.

Castle Mead’s Early Years team is highly professional, experienced, and committed. The successful candidate will become a key leader within this close-knit team, and contribute to the life of the whole school. The role will involve:
• Leading the team of Early Years Teaching Assistants within the Nursery, directing individuals as required
• Working with groups of individuals within all curricular areas, in a variety of tasks to develop the physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills of the children
• Leading learning activities to develop children’s knowledge through support and encouragement
• Providing opportunities for children to work towards the Learning Outcomes
• Ensuring the preparation of activities is completed, so that appropriate materials/equipment are available
• Preparing and adapting teaching aids, games, worksheets etc
• Meeting pupils’ pastoral needs for praise, comfort, encouragement, reassurance and care
• Taking responsibility for the welfare and hygiene of pupils, including changing and cleaning as necessary

The role will be a good fit for you if you are:
• Inclusive, passionate, and principled. These are our Trust core principles, and everyone who works for us embodies these in their own unique way
• Highly experienced in working with pre-school children
• Able to support all children with their learning and development
• Happy to work in a team, as well as being able to use your own initiative
• Experienced in leading a successful team of Teaching Assistants, directing others as required to ensure a high quality of provision for all children at all times

You will need to have the following skills to be really effective in this role:
• Trained in First Aid and Advanced Safeguarding, or willing to undertake training
• Able to communicate well both verbally and in writing with children and adults alike
• Qualified in NVQ Level 3 Teaching and Learning (essential)
• Qualified as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (preferred)
How to apply
To apply for this role, you must send the following items to admin@castlemead.wilts.sch.uk by the above closing date and time. Any applications that do not include all of this information will be incomplete and we won't be able to consider them:
1. A completed application form
2. A letter detailing any additional information
3. A video (no longer than 2 minutes) or a written explanation (no more than 500 words) describing the knowledge and skills that are needed to be an excellent Senior Early Years Teaching Assistant - and how you know you've got them
Other information
We’d love to show you around our school. If you would like to come and visit us, please contact the school office on 01225 768641 to make an appointment.

Candidate Briefing Pack >

Application Form >

Equality & Diversity Form >

This role will involve contact with children and the post holder will be engaged in regulated activity relevant to children and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check before appointment is confirmed. 

This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Please note that by submitting an application, you acknowledge that we reserve the right to view any publicly available information published on social media platforms as part of our shortlisting process, in line with current KCSIE guidelines.

Child Protection Policy >

Code of Conduct >

What we offer

We recognise the value and contribution every member of our staff makes to our schools, and in return for their dedication and commitment we provide:

  • An ambitious and vibrant place to work, with enthusiastic staff and children in all of our schools
  • A highly organised and very supportive team
  • High quality professional development opportunities from Day One, including a National College account, where you can access thousands of training courses online for free
  • A clear vision with purpose and values that are supported by all our staff
  • Unlimited, free access to the Employee Assistance Programme which gives all our staff confidential support and guidance whenever they need it