Teaching Assistant

Are you calm with a friendly demeanour? Do you have experience working with children with ADHD/ASD? Are you seeking to learn new skills in a supportive and vibrant environment? This could be the perfect opportunity for you! 

About the role: We are looking for a Teaching Assistant to support in EYFS/Key Stage 1, starting from September 2022 on a fixed term contract initially. The successful candidate will need to have relevant experience in working with primary-aged children. We are also looking for the successful applicant to have a proven high standard of both spoken and written English, the ability to communicate effectively with children and adults is essential, together with a friendly and approachable manner. The successful candidate will be able to work using their own initiative and demonstrate effective behaviour management skills. In return, you will join a supportive environment with plenty of development opportunities within the academy and across the wider Trust.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

We look forward to hearing from anyone with experience and enthusiasm. This role offers an actual salary of £15,388 per annum based on 35 hours per week (8:30am-4pm Mon-Fri), Term Time only. 

​​​​​​​Note that whilst the position is offered on a fixed term basis initially, every effort will be made to offer a substantive position thereafter, either at Paddock Wood Primary Academy or within the wider family of academies across Leigh Academies Trust. The central Recruitment Team will keep in touch with you throughout your contract to discuss options available to you

Working at our school: We are a thriving and engaging three-form entry school in the heart of West Kent in the town of Paddock Wood. Our ethos encapsulates high standards and expectations, excellent learning and teaching, and the positive wellbeing of our pupils and colleagues. We have a strong and committed teaching team which is widely respected and supported by our academy community. Our teachers vary in experience from Newly Qualified to 30+ years, and each brings something valuable to share, and a passion to learn. Our staff and the wider Trust team has a lot to offer new colleagues, in terms of sharing experience and opportunities, and professional development and training. 

Our broad curriculum is supported by specialist teachers of music, French, PE, computing and outdoor education. Some features that help us stand out from other schools are that all of our pupils learn French, learn other subjects in French and leave us conversant in the language, pupils leave us with a strong understanding and appreciation of music and sporting skills and that we embed independence, stamina and considered risk into children’s learning, for example through EYFS and KS1 team games and initiative exercises, Year 3 outdoor/forest skills, Y4 mountain biking, Year 5 caving and kayaking, and Year 6 skiing/snow-boarding. We have our own school minibuses and we very frequently take children out into the local area and into central London, as well as taking Year 5 pupils to the Brecon Beacons and Year 6 pupils to  France or Scotland. We have a strong regard for extra-curricular learning and a healthy catalogue of sporting and other successes and awards.

Our academy benefits from significant parent and community support, but we are not complacent - we are committed, hard-working and welcoming. Our children are delightful; calm, focused and very eager to learn.

‘Our highly ambitious community builds thinking learners, who act with agency and create lasting memories.’

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2021, our Trust comprises 31 geographically organised academies (15 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Click here to view our future plans in our Vision 2025 document.  

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Click here to view the range of benefits available to all LAT staff.  

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units.  All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.  

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.