Teaching Assistant

Are you looking for a job where each day is different,  filled with experiences that are both challenging, fun and fulfilling? A role where you go home with a sense of achievement knowing that you and your team have made a difference every day to the wonderful young people in your care? Where you can choose a career pathway that suits your personal circumstances and professional ambitions? Where you can shine and achieve your very best with like minded people who genuinely care and work as a team?  If you are, then please read on!

About the role: We are looking to appoint committed and enthusiastic Teaching Assistants to join and support our wider SEN teams at Milestone Academy in New Ash Green and/or across our provisions at Wilmington Academy, The Leigh Academy, Dartford Primary Academy and Cherry Orchard Primary Academy. This role is ideal for those who genuinely have a passion for helping children, particularly with learning difficulties, and also a fantastic opportunity for those considering a career in Teaching to gain valuable first-hand experience. Candidates who are appointed will receive full support and training from colleagues and teachers. 

Staff at Milestone Academy receive access to a great range of employment benefits from day one. Click here to view the current benefits package, and be mindful that the list is always growing. ​​​​​​​

The main aim of this role is to support our teachers to deliver academic excellence, day in, day out, with professionalism and enthusiasm. 

The basis of the role is permanent, 31.75 hours per week (8.45am - 3.30pm and until 4:30pm on alternate Tuesdays), Term Time + 1 week inset.

What are we looking for in you?  Applicants will have previous experience of working with young people, either in an academic setting or as a voluntary worker. You will be educated to GCSE level (or equivalent) in English and maths. You will be committed to personal learning and development, and have a sincere commitment to sharing our long-term aims and drive for continuous improvement. In return, we will offer you a professional and supportive team, a state of the art working environment and a genuine opportunity to develop.

As a Trust we feel it is important to hire for the right attitude which is why we look for support assistants that are enthusiastic, focused and resilient to the day to day pressures that the classroom brings.

Hear from a previous Teaching Assistant of ours: "I started my career at Milestone Academy 10 years ago as a Teaching Assistant. Supporting students with a range of learning styles alongside completing professional development courses at Milestone Academy allowed me to gain the skills and confidence to begin my career in teaching. Milestone Academy has supported my journey through gaining a degree, leading onto my current position completing my teacher training to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are ample opportunities for career progression at Milestone Academy and the support received from all colleagues and senior leadership has been integral. The staff at Milestone Academy are so supportive of one another and the whole staff community is focused on the best possible outcomes for our students."

Working for Milestone Academy: Milestone Academy is a large special school for pupils with Profound, Severe and Complex needs, and is part of Leigh Academies Trust.  We currently have 385 pupils on roll aged between the ages of 2 and 19. Milestone Academy has been judged as Outstanding by Ofsted at our last three inspections. Click here to view our website and learn more about Milestone Academy. 

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2022, our Trust comprises 30 geographically organised academies (14 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing 3,000 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North 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. Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.​​​​​​​

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.

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 which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. 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 discriminating on any grounds.

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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. Please note, interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis.