Early Years Practitioner

Star Academies; Bradford; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy in Bradford is seeking a dedicated support assistant to provide tailored help to pupils in a disadvantaged community. You will help create an outstanding learning environment and support individual learning needs, groups and whole classes.

The successful candidate will have a relevant childcare qualification and experience with the Early Years Foundation Stage, with strong organisational and interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• A relevant qualification OR training in the care and education of nursery age children.
• Experience of the Early Years Foundation Stage to support children’s learning and development, adjusting activities according to children’s responses and needs; using specialist curricular and learning skills.
• Practical experience of working with children within an educational setting.
• The ability to work one to one, in small groups and with whole classes.
• The ability to contribute effectively to teachers’ planning and preparation of lessons.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored support to pupils to enable an outstanding learning environment.
• Support learning and teaching and develop relationships across the school and Star community.

Skills

EYFS experience

1:1 & small group support

Strong organisational skills

Relevant childcare qualification

Education

NNEB or Level 3 NVQ in Early Years Care and Education

Diploma in Childcare Education

Graduate level education

Job description

Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to deliver outstanding support to help young people in a disadvantaged community? If so, joining the Star support team might just be the best career move you ever make. This is your opportunity to join a dedicated team of support staff who are committed to providing the best possible education for our pupils.

About Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy

Thornbury Primary Leadership Academy is a primary school, with a nursery, for 3 to 11 year olds in Bradford. We joined Star Academies in 2018 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.

The school was rated ‘good’ overall, with ‘outstanding’ judgements in two of the five areas of the inspection framework during its inspection in September 2022.

We are an ambitious school with high expectations for all of our pupils. We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for a dedicated individual to provide tailored support to our pupils. You will be committed to making a positive difference to young people’s lives and in supporting and developing their learning. Your intervention will help enable an outstanding learning environment for our young people, providing the support they need to succeed.

The successful candidate will be a committed team player with excellent organisational and technical skills. You will have the ability to effectively support learning and teaching, and to develop relationships across our school and the Star community.

You will have:

• A relevant qualification (NNEB, Level 3 NVQ in Early Years Care and Education, Diploma in Childcare Education, BTEC National Diploma in Early Years, education to graduate level) OR training in the care and education of nursery age children with recent experience in a relevant position.
• Experience of the Early Years Foundation Stage to support children’s learning and development, adjusting activities according to children’s responses and needs; using specialist curricular and learning skills.
• Practical experience of working with children within an educational setting.
• The ability to work one to one, in small groups and with whole classes.
• The ability to contribute effectively to teachers’ planning and preparation of lessons.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: To be confirmed.

Proposed Start Date: Monday, 4 January 2027.

Proposed Fixed Term Contract End Date: 31 December 2026.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.