Teaching Assistant (1:1) (TA2)

Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School is a successful primary school located in the Falconwood area of Welling. We are located a 10-minute walk away from Welling High Street with good public transport links (less than 8-minutes’ walk from Falconwood Railway Station) and on-site parking. We benefit from nearby local amenities at The Green, Falconwood (0.5 miles) and green open spaces such as Oxleas Wood (1 mile).

We live our school life in line with our core Christian vision and values of Trust, Forgiveness, Thankfulness, Compassion, Friendship and Humility. We have strong links with Bishop Ridley Church on The Green (Falconwood) and are an inclusive community, welcoming children and staff of all faiths and of none.

We aim for every child to develop a passion for learning in a stimulating environment in which all children can reach their full potential. In our recent Ofsted inspection, we were graded ‘Good’ (April 2024) with the inspector noting that “Leaders and teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).” They observed that, “Pupils really are the stars of this school; they are charming and polite to everyone. Pupils at Bishop Ridley are cared for and valued.” Pupils and parents agree that children feel safe here and enjoy coming to school. 

Are you committed to giving children the best possible start in life? Are you passionate about providing children with unique and exciting learning opportunities? Are you able to work collaboratively as part of a supportive and dedicated team?

If so, Bishop Ridley might be the school for you!

What we can offer:

• Our children are our biggest asset! Behaviour for learning is strong and the school has a calm, positive environment

• Talented, friendly and supportive staff who work collaboratively as part of the TA team

• Experienced and approachable senior leaders, who are committed to improving practice and supporting staff well-being

• Opportunities for CPD tailored to meet individual staff needs 

• A clear vision for our staff and pupils: One Community, Learning and Growing Together, Sharing the Love of God.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team. We are looking to recruit a creative and enthusiastic teaching assistant with an interest or experience working with children with special educational needs.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is creative, inspirational and friendly

• Is motivated by the desire to support children with additional needs to reach their full potential

• Understands the importance of teamwork and good communication with pupils, parents and colleagues

• Is committed to on-going professional development.

The right candidate will:

• Be able to work collaboratively as part of a team

• Have relevant experience working with children with additional needs in a primary education setting

• Have high expectations for pupils in their care

• Promote our Christian vision and values

• Be committed to the safety and well-being of our children

• Have the desire and ambition to continually develop and improve as a professional.

Please be aware that we take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously. Applicants should review our safeguarding policy and be aware that we operate safer recruitment and probation processes to ensure the suitability of candidates to work with the children at Bishop Ridley Primary School.

Further details about this vacancy, including the Job Description and Person Specification, are available to download from the downloads section below. We highly recommend visits to the school, so you can meet our wonderful children and see our community at work. To arrange a visit or find out more about the role, please contact the school office on 020 8303 4461 or by email to admin@bishop-ridley.bexley.sch.uk . More information can also be found on our school website at https://www.bishopridleyschool.org.uk/.

Applicants invited to interview stage will be required to complete a Self-Disclosure form.

An Enhanced DBS certificate will be required on provisional offer, including a check of the Children’s Barred List. Further vetting checks, in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025 will be completed following a provisional offer of appointment.

This post is considered to be a customer-facing position; as such it falls within scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the person specification. These will be applied during the recruitment/selection and probationary stages.

Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service delivery and expects employees to comply with our values of promoting equality and diversity, treating colleagues and service users with dignity and respect at all times. This commitment must be evidenced in practice. Any behaviour that falls below these standards is unacceptable to the School and potentially constitutes misconduct.

To apply for this vacancy please download and complete the application form, paying particular attention to Section 4 of the form; to indicate how you satisfy the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Applications should be submitted via email to admin@bishop-ridley.bexley.sch.uk. Alternatively, paper applications should be sent to Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, Northumberland Avenue, Welling, Kent, DA16 2QE. CVs will not be accepted. 

The closing date for applications is midday on Monday, 13th October 2025.

Interviews are planned to take place on the morning of Thursday, 16th October 2025.

References will be requested for applicants shortlisted for interview only and prior to interview.

Only applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

References will be requested for shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Shortlisted applicants will be required to complete and return a Self-Disclosure form prior to interview. 

Online Searches will be carried out on shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any concerns will be discussed with candidates at interview. Further vetting checks including an enhanced DBS, incorporating a check of the Children’s Barred List, will be undertaken on provisional offer.