Teaching Assistant

West Sussex County Council; Chichester; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Part time

Job summary

Thorney Island School is inviting applications for a Teaching Assistant to commence as soon as possible. This fixed-term post until July 2027 supports a KS1/KS2 class or pupil, with 29.16 hours weekly (Mon-Fri 8:30am-3:15pm; term-time only, based on 38 weeks).

We seek a friendly, enthusiastic team member with experience, who can work with individuals and groups, run interventions, and help pupils achieve strong progress. Visits welcomed; contact the school office to arrange.

Qualifications

• Good Maths and English at GCSE/C/4 or above.
• Experience working with children with additional needs.
• Flexible and adaptable to the daily life of the school.
• Empathetic understanding of children's emotions and behaviour; remove barriers to learning.
• Ability to work independently and with initiative.
• Can-do attitude with high aspirations for themselves, children and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Work with teachers/leaders to raise standards and help pupils make good progress.
• Support individuals and/or groups inside or outside the classroom under teacher direction.
• Run intervention programmes for groups and/or individual children.

Skills

Good communication

Interpersonal skills

Team player

Flexibility

Empathy

Education

GCSE Maths & English (C/4+)

Job description

Thorney Island School is looking to appoint a Teaching Assistant to start as soon as possible.

The contract will be offered on a Fixed Term basis until July 2027.

This post is to work in an allocated class or with an allocated child either in KS1 or KS2 for 29.16 hours per week (Monday-Friday 8.30am - 3.15pm, term time only, based on 38 weeks per year).

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and friendly person with previous experience to join our hardworking and dedicated team.

The position involves:

• Working closely with teachers and leaders to raise standards and help each pupil make good progress.
• Working with individuals and/or groups of children both in and outside of the classroom,
  under the direction of a teacher.
• Running intervention programmes for groups and/or individual children.

The successful candidate should:

• Have a good level of Maths and English, educated to GCSE Grade C/Level 4 or above
• Have experience of working with children with a range of additional needs
• Be flexible and adaptable to the daily changing life of the school and work as part of a team
• Have an empathetic understanding of children's emotions and behaviour and actively seek to remove barriers to learning
• Have an ability to work independently and with initiative to ensure all learners achieve the best outcomes
• Have a 'can do' attitude with high aspirations for themselves, children and colleagues

We are looking for someone who can be flexible, reliable, have good communication and interpersonal skills and in return we can offer a happy, friendly school environment with supportive and dedicated staff.

Visits to look around the school are warmly welcomed. Please contact the school office on 01243 371317 or email [e-mail] to arrange this.

Closing date for applications is 10.00am on Friday 27 November 2026. Interviews will take place on Thursday 3 December 2026.

Safeguarding Statement

Thorney Island Community Primary School and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.

Thorney Island Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check.