Level 1 Teaching Assistant

Minerva Primary School; Taunton; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 16,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS Pension

Generous annual leave

Induction and wellbeing support

Health benefits and fitness schemes

On-site parking

Job summary

Minerva Primary School in Taunton, Somerset, is seeking a caring Teaching Assistant Level 1 to support pupils in a single form entry setting. You will work closely with our SENCo and colleagues to deliver tailored support that enhances learning, engagement, and wellbeing.

The role is fixed-term until 31 August 2027, part-time (24 hours/week, term time plus inset days), starting February 2027. We offer development opportunities within the Cabot Learning Federation and a supportive, inclusive team.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates commitment to being part of a high performing school with high expectations.
• Aims to improve the life chances of pupils.
• Shows willingness to develop personally and professionally.
• Adapts to the challenges of a single form entry school.
• Sees feedback as a gift and strives to improve daily.
• Supports the wider success of the school and community.

Responsibilities

• Deliver tailored support to enhance learning, engagement and wellbeing.
• Work with the SENCo and staff to support individual pupils.
• Contribute to a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment.
• Engage in professional development opportunities offered by the CLF.

Skills

High expectations

Life chances improvement

Self development

Resilience in single form entry school

Feedback mindset

Community collaboration

Education

Minimum Level 2 qualification in Early Years

Job description

Job Title: Teaching Assistant - Level 1

Actual Annual Salary: £14,884 - £16,223 Based on hours and week worked

Full Time Equivalent Salary: £26,798 - £29,208 (CLF Grade B) Based on full time hours, all year round.

Contract Type: Fixed term until 31 August 2027

Hours: 24hours per week - Part Time, Term Time Only plus Inset days

Potential Start Date: February 2027

An opportunity to empower students to reach their full potential by delivering tailored support that enhances learning, engagement, and well-being:

At Minerva Primary School, we are seeking a caring and enthusiastic individual to join our team and help give our learners the very best start. Working closely with our experienced SENCo and dedicated colleagues, you will play a vital role in nurturing and educating our children within a warm, supportive environment.

As part of the Cabot Learning Federation, you will benefit from excellent professional development opportunities designed to help you grow and excel in your career. If you share our values of Courage, Excellence, Compassion, and Collaboration, we would love to welcome you to our committed and vibrant team.

About you:

You will:

• Be committed to being part of a high performing school that has high expectations.
• Continuously be committed to improving the life chances of pupils.
• Always be committed to own self development and resilient to the challenges of working in a single form entry school.
• Be committed to seeing feedback as a gift and strive to be better every day.
• Stay committed to the wider success of the school and community.
• Have experience of, or willingness to embrace working in a single form entry school is essential. Minimum Level 2 qualification in Early Years (not essential).

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

About Minerva Primary School:

Minerva Primary School is a small, nurturing primary school with a strong commitment to relational practice andequitableeducational experiences for all. With a high proportion of pupils with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) We pride ourselves on delivering high quality provision through a compassionate and collaborative team, working together to meet the diverse needs of our children. If you are passionate about inclusive education and want to make a meaningful difference, we would love to hear from you.

Minerva Primary School, situated in Taunton, Somerset, educates children between the ages of two and 11. Here at Minerva, we encourage an appetite for life, foster an eagerness to seek out what the world has to offer, empower confidence in asking for help when troubled, and nurture skills to enable children to have deeply fulfilling relationships later in life and develop a capacity for empathy.

In our latest Ofsted inspection, inspectors commented: “Pupils are proud to be part of their school. They have positive attitudes toward learning. Staff give pupils the confidence not to give up when they find learning tricky. The school values courage, compassion and collaboration. Pupils remember and understand these values. Pupils believe that everyone should be treated fairly. They say they feel safe in school.”

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 37 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date:29 November 2026@11.59pm
• Shortlisting date: 01 December 2026
• Interviews:14 December 2026

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.