Nursery Teaching Assistant

Suffolk Jobs Direct; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 20,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in Ipswich is seeking a dedicated Nursery Teaching Assistant to support children in their new nursery starting January 2026. This role involves creating a safe and stimulating environment, aiding in children's development, and collaborating closely with the classroom teacher. A Level 3 qualification and strong communication skills are essential for success in this position. This is a full-time permanent role offering approximately £19,343 per annum.

Qualifications

• Patient and flexible individual committed to working with children.
• Experience in supporting personal, social, and emotional development.
• Knowledge of sensory strategies to aid children.

Responsibilities

• Assist with daily routines and support children's development.
• Create a safe and stimulating environment for learning.
• Provide support in small groups and manage change effectively.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Patience

Flexibility

Resilience

Team-focused approach

Education

Relevant Level 3 qualification

Job description

Job Description

• Castle Hill Infant and Junior School
• Location: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 6QD
• Salary: £19,343 per annum
• Hours: 32.5 hours per week, 8.30am – 3.30pm, Monday-Friday
• Contract: Permanent, required from January 2026.
• Reference: 8011

Castle Hill Infant and Junior School are seeking a dedicated and passionate Nursery Teaching Assistant to join our brand-new nursery, opening in January 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity to support young children at the very start of their educational journey in a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment.

Castle Hill Infant and Junior Schools are two established schools, working as one, based in Ipswich. Castle Hill is a vibrant school community within ASSET Education, creating learners who are equipped for the 21st century. We place great emphasis on developing children’s character, using our bespoke Learning Knights, restorative practices and Trauma Informed approach, to prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead in both their education and life.

As a Nursery Teaching Assistant, you will help create a safe and stimulating space where children feel secure, valued and encouraged to explore through play. You will assist with daily routines, support children’s personal, social and emotional development, and contribute to a positive atmosphere that promotes wellbeing and curiosity.

We are seeking someone who is patient, flexible and passionate about working with young children. Strong communication skills and a team‑focused approach are essential, along with a genuine commitment to supporting the values and ethos of our school. The successful candidate will also hold a relevant Level 3 qualification.

You will:

• be a consistently outstanding classroom assistant
• be committed to achieving high standards
• be flexible and can use your own initiative, understanding a range of duties
• be able to work independently and as part of a team
• be resilient, hardworking and self‑motivated
• be able to adapt to suit the needs of individual learners
• be able to manage change well and support children in a variety of situations
• be required to provide support in small groups
• be a team player who is solution focused, patient and caring
• think on your feet and use your own initiative
• have a good knowledge of or be prepared to learn about sensory strategies and how to use these to support children to self‑regulate or be willing to learn
• understand different communication methods
• provide support for children by implementing an effective range of learning strategies to ensure outstanding learning outcomes for all students
• work closely with the class teacher
• liaise with teaching staff to plan and deliver classroom support

This post will be reporting directly to our Nursery Teacher.

For more information

Please read the Recruitment Pack (pdf).

For further details, or to arrange an initial discussion with Jennifer Smith, Headteacher please contact Joanne Sparkhall, Office Manager, by either emailing [e-mail] or calling 01473 741758.

To find out more about the school please visit our website.

How To Apply

Please complete your application by visiting the My New Term website.

Closing date: 3pm, 21 November 2025. Interview date: 28 November 2025. We welcome visits to the school. For an informal tour please contact the school office to arrange.

ASSET Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

The successful candidate will have to meet the requirements of the job description and will be subject to pre‑employment checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and children’s barred list check, health check, online search and satisfactory references.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

To apply, please follow the application process detailed above.

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