Level 1 Teaching Assistant - 31.75 hours

Kingsmead Academy; Hartswell; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Kingsmead Academy is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant Level 1 to join a small, supportive team under the guidance of the SENDCO. You will support students with a wide range of learning, communication and social needs, both in the classroom and across the school environment.

You will prepare resources, maintain a safe learning space, and help deliver activities that enable all students to access the curriculum. A focus on inclusion, patience, and collaboration is essential.

Qualifications

• Commitment to inclusion and supporting students with diverse needs.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students and staff.
• Capable of working with students on a one-to-one basis and in small groups.
• Good literacy and numeracy; proficient with IT to support learning.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and supervision for students in the classroom and across the school.
• Prepare learning resources and activities to enable access to the curriculum.
• Support delivery of learning activities and differentiate for varying abilities.
• Promote positive behaviour, independence and resilience while safeguarding students.

Job description

Job Title:Teaching Assistant - Level 1

Actual Annual Salary:£19,691 - £21,461 (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:Permanent

Hours:31.75 hours per week - Part Time, Term Time Only plus Inset days

Additional Information: This role is 31.75 hours per week, worked across five days. The weekly hours are Monday 6.25, Tuesday 6.25, Wednesday 6.75, Thursday 6.25, and Friday 6.25 hours.

Potential Start Date: January 2027 (Subject to completion of pre-employment checks)

Make a difference by helping students overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential through personalised support, encouragement, and care.

We are seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant Level 1 to join the team at Kingsmead Academy. Working as part of a small, supportive team under the guidance of the SENDCO, you will play a vital role in supporting students with a wide range of learning, communication, and social needs.

In this role, you will provide care and supervision for students both within the classroom and across the wider school environment. You will work closely with teaching staff to prepare learning resources, maintain a safe and engaging learning environment, and support the delivery of learning activities that enable all students to access the curriculum. You will adapt your approach to meet the needs of students with significantly varying abilities, ensuring appropriate differentiation and inclusion at all times.

You will promote positive behaviour, independence, self-esteem, and resilience, helping students to develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed both academically and personally. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will contribute to creating a supportive and nurturing environment where every student is encouraged to thrive and reach their full potential.

About you:

You will:

• Have a keen interest in working with children and a genuine commitment to inclusion, ensuring every student feels valued, supported and able to succeed.
• Understand the role of a Teaching Assistant and how effective support enables students to access learning, make progress and achieve their potential.
• Be able to build positive relationships with students, demonstrating patience, empathy and active listening.
• Be confident supporting students on a one-to-one basis and in small groups, using appropriate strategies to engage learners and promote positive behaviour.
• Have strong communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, parents/carers and other professionals.
• Be adaptable and responsive to the varying needs of students, including those with SEND and additional learning needs.
• Have good organisational skills and be able to assist in the preparation of learning activities, resources and support materials.
• Work collaboratively as part of a team, contributing positively to student outcomes and the wider school community.
• Demonstrate good literacy and numeracy skills and be confident using IT to support learning and administrative tasks.
• Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, safety and well-being of children and young people.
• Maintain professionalism, discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Be committed to continuous professional development, including undertaking relevant training and qualifications where appropriate.
• Be flexible, resilient and able to remain calm under pressure while supporting students with a wide range of needs.

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 Kingsmead Academy:

Kingsmead School is a rural mixed ability Academy with a fully comprehensive intake situated near the Devon/Somerset border, close to the Brendon Hills and Exmoor. It is a magnificent area in which to live and work. Not only is there the tranquillity and beauty of the countryside but there is the rapidly growing county town of Taunton nearby and easy access (20 minutes) to the M5 for connections to the rest of the country.

The school lies in the small town of Wiveliscombe. It caters for the age range 11-16 and has 884 students and just over 100 staff. Our latest Ofsted Report, in June 2022, gave an overall judgement that Kingsmead “requires improvement”. Mr J Eddy, Headteacher, joined Kingsmead in January 2023. He is determined to improve education at Kingsmead for our superb body of students.

The core values of Kingsmead are Care, Aspiration, Respect and Determination which drive our strong positive ethos and offering amenities for the whole school community. We have high expectations and expect staff to support our caring, student‑centred ethos to set high standards for our students. We hope staff will contribute to and lead some of the wide range of extra‑curricular opportunities we offer.

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:01 November 2026 @11.59pm
• Shortlisting date: 04 November 2026
• Interviews: 11 November 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.