Teaching Assistant

About role: Bearsted Primary Academy has an exceptional opportunity for a committed, enthusiastic and passionate Teaching Assistant to join us from September 2022, or sooner if available. Becoming a member of the Bearsted Primary Academy team will enable you to work with like-minded colleagues who share your goals and ambitions. You will be part of a team that provides an outstanding education for all of our pupils through creative, carefully sequenced and highly effective inquiry led learning, where all learners are at the very core of driving our curriculum.

The successful candidate will need to have relevant experience and/or qualifications in working with primary-aged children. We are also looking for proven high standards of both spoken and written English and Mathematics. Being able to communicate effectively with children and adults is essential, together with a friendly and approachable manner. Our newly appointed Teaching Assistant will be able to work using their own initiative and demonstrate effective behaviour management skills. In return, they will join a supportive environment with plenty of development opportunities within the academy and across the wider Trust.

This is a permanent position offering an actual salary of £14,665 based on 32.5 hours per week, Term Time + 1 week of inset.

We are particularly looking for someone who:

• is dedicated to the job and prioritises the needs of the children in their care.
• has experience of working with primary aged children and the Early Years Foundation Stage
• is resilient and solution-focused
• is committed to working as part of a team with everyone

In return, we can offer:

• An inspiring and supportive staff team committed to providing a good level of education for every pupil.
• An excellent offer of continuing professional development for all staff.
• An exciting and creative learning setting where everyone is listened to and there is a very strong teamwork ethic.
• Many wider career opportunities through the Leigh Academies Trust.​​​​​​​

Take a look inside Bearsted Primary Academy​​​​​​ 

Bearsted Primary Academy: Bearsted Primary Academy opened in September 2020 and welcomed its first cohort of Reception children of up to 60 pupils, two classes of 30 in each. Currently, the academy has Nursery, Reception and Years 1-3. Every year we will continue to grow our academy until we reach full capacity of 420 pupils across Years R - 6 and 24 pupils in Nursery.

A broad and balanced curriculum is at the heart of an aspirational and successful school.  To enhance our curriculum delivery, we are currently a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). This is an inquiry led framework that complements the Early Years Foundation Stage, fostering independent learners who continue to thrive. Surrounded by talented, dedicated practitioners, we aim to deliver pupils engaging and challenging experiences and opportunities within their education, which are both enjoyable and develop a thirst for learning. In doing this, we look to provide the highest quality learning experiences for every child throughout their whole day at the academy.

We are committed to providing an education and environment where children feel safe and cared for, take risks and embrace learning, experience a sense of pride in all that they achieve and, where children develop social, emotional and academic skills preparing them for a bright future.

Bearsted Primary Academy focuses on the development of the whole child, both in and outside of the classroom, with an emphasis on inquiry-led learning, encouraging our pupils to challenge, question and take ownership of their learning. In order to achieve this, we believe in the importance of building strong partnerships between the adults and pupils in our school, ensuring all learners succeed and benefit from the relationships formed within a caring and encouraging environment. This approach to learning and development is continued in our Wrap Around Care.

Therefore, to be a successful candidate you need to be passionate, dedicated, reflective, proactive and caring. We are looking for someone who has good communication skills and is flexible in their approach when supporting children and working alongside other colleagues. You will be expected to complete key training as deemed appropriate to the role. As a Trust, we know it is important to be positive, inspirational and a real team player.

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.