Teaching Assistant

St Andrews Academy; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Teachers Pension

Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan

Free Discount For Teachers Scheme

Free Eye Tests

Cycle to work scheme

Institute of Education access

Job summary

St Andrew’s Academy is seeking two Grade 4 Teaching Assistants to support pupils with severe learning needs at its two Derby sites: Whittaker Road and the main campus. You will provide high-quality classroom assistance, help pupils meet personal and educational targets, and work closely with teachers and families to ensure consistent support.

The roles require caring, patient and adaptable team players who can build strong relationships, support emotional and behavioural development, and promote

Qualifications

• Caring and patient approach to supporting learners with additional needs.
• Good communication and collaboration with teachers, families and professionals.
• Ability to remain calm and positive in challenging situations.
• Commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and pupil development.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality support to pupils in the classroom and wider school environment.
• Support pupils with learning, development and individual targets.
• Build positive relationships and encourage independence and life skills.
• Support pupils with additional needs and learning differences.
• Help create a safe, calm learning environment and manage emotions and behaviours.
• Work with teachers and the team to implement education and support plans.
• Assist with personal care where required and liaise with families.

Skills

Caring

Patience

Enthusiasm

Resilience

Communication

Team player

Inclusion & safeguarding

Willing to learn

Job description

2 Positions Available – Whittaker Road & Main Site!

Are you passionate about making a real difference to the lives of children and young people? Do you have the patience, enthusiasm and commitment to help every learner reach their full potential?

We are looking for two dedicated Grade 4 Teaching Assistants to join our supportive and committed team within our special school.

We have two exciting opportunities available:

• Teaching Assistant based at our Whittaker Road site
• 1 Teaching Assistant based at our main school site

Our school provides a nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment for children and young people with a range of additional needs. As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting pupils to engage in learning, develop their independence and achieve their personal and educational goals.

Working alongside teachers and other professionals, you will:

• Provide high-quality support to pupils both within the classroom and across the wider school environment.
• Support pupils with their learning, development and individual targets.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Encourage pupils to develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• Support pupils with a range of additional needs and learning differences.
• Help create a safe, calm and positive learning environment.
• Support pupils to manage their emotions and behaviour using agreed strategies.
• Work as part of a committed team, contributing to individual education and support plans.
• Assist with personal care where required, depending on the needs of the pupils.
• Work closely with teachers, families and other professionals to ensure pupils receive consistent support.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Caring, patient and compassionate.
• Enthusiastic about working with children and young people with additional needs.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm in challenging situations.
• A positive role model who can build strong relationships with pupils.
• A good communicator and team player.
• Committed to inclusion, safeguarding and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.
• Willing to learn and develop their skills within a specialist educational setting

St Andrew’s is a day special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and ASD aged 11 -19 years. Our Special settings cater for children and young people with a wide range of Special Educational Needs from children with profound medical needs and life limiting conditions, those with severe, moderate and sensory needs through to young people with social emotional and mental health needs that require support and understanding to help them to navigate their world.

Please note, St Andrew’s Academy is a school that is based over two sites. During your employment at our school, you may be asked to work at either site, but any moves would be discussed with yourself prior.

Our main site is based at St Andrew’s View, Breadsall Hilltop, Derby, DE21 4EW and most students on site are in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 with a small number of students who are aged 16-19.

Our FE (Further Education) Campus is based at 66 Whitaker Road, Derby, DE23 6AR. All students here are aged 16-19 and this site is based close to the city centre.

All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.

AtShaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, orleading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.

Ourvalues—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything wedo. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power oflearning.” We bring this to life through our mission: workingtogether to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voicematters, and every learner thrives.

Weare a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.

Ourpeople are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their developmentthrough high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes,and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled,confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster aculture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a realdifference.

Youwill join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and astrong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust hasan equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailoredlearning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.

Ifyou have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and createfutures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.

Together,let’s make the remarkable happen.

Webelieve every child has the potential to be extraordinary.

Makea life-changing difference in one of our special schools

Ourspecial schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places towork. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a widerange of special educational needs and disabilities to discover theirstrengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Ourpupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learningdisabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severelearning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Everypupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised andcelebrated.

Joinus and help transform lives, including your own.

ShawEducation Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching orSupport Staff employment:

• Anexcellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / TeachersPension (Teaching Staff)
• Support Staff only based onworking full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your firstday of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’service including Bank Holidays)
• Accessto Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed tosupport your well-being.
• FreeDiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusivediscounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offersfrom hundreds of the biggest brands.
• FreeEye Tests
• Cycleto work scheme
• Access to our Institute ofEducation and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute andflourish in your role and in the Trust.

We know our people are the key to our success and so we’recommitted to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is arewarding one.

Colleagueswithin the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses bothin-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of theNational Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programmedelivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for AmbitionInstitute.

• Experiencedleadership and subject-specific support.
• Guidancefrom former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
• Accessto the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
• Opportunitiesto work with different schools within the Trust as a ProfessionalAdvocate.
• Participatingin peer reviews.
• Accessto a suite of online courses.
• Placementprojects within our family of schools.

Actual Salary: £20,766 - £21,428
Working Hours: Monday to Friday – 35 hours per week – 38 weeks plus 5 inset days (39 in total)