Vacancy: Teaching Assistant (May 2022)

School
River Mead School and The Mead Primary School (please indicate on your application if you have a preferred school / site)
Job reference
TMT/TA
Closing date
9.00pm on 5th June 2022
Interview date
To be confirmed
Start date
There are vacancies available with an immediate start, and others with a start date in September 2022. Please let us know on your application if you have a preferred start date
Contract type
Both temporary and permanent roles are currently available. Tell us on your application which you would prefer
Salary
Grade D £18,933 - Grade E £19,698 pro rata depending on experience and qualifications (higher salary available for senior roles)
Hours
A variety of working hours and schedules are available, please indicate on your application if there are any particular working patterns you would prefer
Location
The Mead - Hackett Place, Hilperton BA14 7GN
River Mead School - Lowbourne, Melksham SN12 7ED
Role overview
Due to relocations, we currently have posts for Teaching Assistants available at both River Mead School in Melksham and The Mead Primary School in Hilperton. There are both standard and senior roles available, working in Early Years, Years 1-6, and our Resource Base (this is our specialist provision for children with complex needs, at River Mead School).

We also have a mix of full time and part time roles available.

We pride ourselves on our comprehensive induction process, and delivering professional development to all of our staff throughout their time with us. We will give full training to the right person, as we believe strongly that it’s much more about your attitude and approach than it is about experience. As a result, we welcome applications from people who are passionate about working with children, no matter what their background is. You might have just finished a qualification in childcare or Teaching and Learning, or have been a Sports Coach, worked as a childminder, or are looking for a complete career change. Our staff come from a huge variety of backgrounds, and we embrace and actively welcome people from all walks of life. We understand the vast knowledge and skill that comes from a range of sectors.

Our Teaching Assistants are crucial to the running of our schools, and get involved in a wide variety of activities on a day-to-day basis. Depending on which area of the school you are based in, on a typical day you might be involved with:
• Working with groups and individuals under the direction of a teacher, to develop the physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills of children
• Assisting with learning activities to develop children’s knowledge through support and encouragement
• Making observations of the children’s progress, attitudes and behaviour
• Preparing activities, and making sure that appropriate equipment is available, and helping clear away afterwards
• Administering First Aid and medication
• Displaying children’s work in classrooms and corridors, to celebrate their achievements and contribute to the positive, vibrant atmosphere of the school

This role will be a great 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
• Able to support all children with their learning needs
• Passionate about improving learning opportunities for all children in the school
• Happy to work in a team, as well as being able to use your own initiative

To be a brilliant Teaching Assistant, you’ll need to be someone who is:
• Able to communicate well with children and adults
• Caring, patient and calm
• Willing to undertake First Aid training (if you haven’t got a certificate already)
How to apply
To apply for this role, you must send the following items to kthain@themead.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
Other information
We’d love to show you around either - or both! - of our schools. If you would like to come and visit us, please email hello@themeadtrust.org 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