Teaching Assistant

Suffolk County Council; Haverhill; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Churchill Special Free School in Haverhill is seeking a Teaching Assistant to join our vibrant community from September 2026. You will support pupils across two pathways, including GCSE and non-GCSE routes, working with a teacher and two teaching assistants in each class.

We are proud of our Ofsted-positive environment and aim to empower pupils aged 8–18, with tailored support and opportunities for professional development through our Teaching School Hub and Unity Institute.

Qualifications

• Passionate teaching and learning support assistant with willingness to develop and accept staff guidance.
• Experience or keen interest in working with pupils with special educational needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to inclusive education and ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with special educational needs across two pathways.
• Collaborate with teachers and other teaching assistants in class.
• Contribute to an inclusive, supportive learning environment and professional growth.

Skills

SEN experience

Communication skills

Reflective mindset

Job description

• Churchill Special Free School


• Address: Chalkstone Way, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 0LD


• Salary: £25,185 - £25,989 pro rata (£21,531 - £22,219 per annum)


• Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week, 38 weeks per year


• Contract: Permanent, required from September 2026


• Reference: 5364

Churchill Special Free Schoolare seeking a Teaching Assistant (TA) to join our vibrant and supportive community.

Are you passionate about inspiring young minds? Do you believe in the power of education to change lives?

As the school is going through a period of increasing its pupil numbers and due to the successful promotions of our current teaching and learning support assistants to other posts within the school, an opportunity has arisen to work at Churchill Special Free School from September 2026.

We have pupils on 2 different pathways. They are the GCSE pathway where pupils follow 7 GCSEs and can work to a high degree of independence with hover support from teaching and learning support assistants. The other pathway is where pupils are working at about 3 to 4 years below age related expectations and will be working towards achieving non GCSE accreditation. In both pathways, in each of the classes, there is a teacher and 2 teaching assistants.

Why Churchill Special School?

At Churchill, we pride ourselves on creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where every student is empowered to reach their full potential and life beyond their time at school. Our school serves pupils with a range of special educational needs, and we are committed to providing a tailored and enriching educational experience. We are a special school with a unique environment which from September will cater for 94 pupils aged between 8 and 18.We had our ungraded Ofsted Inspection in October 2024 and we are very proud to have been judged to have taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection, which was in 2019 where the school was graded outstanding. Pupils love our school. ‘Pupils love their school as this is a place where they can be themselves. Pupils build important social skills and make friends. Adults support pupils to celebrate their neurodiversity and recognise the shared similarities they have with others, regardless of background. One pupil echoed many others by saying ‘this is a school that any pupil in the world would want to go to’ (Ofsted 2024).

Please click on the link to read our report

We are looking for:

• A passionate teaching and learning support assistant who is keen to develop further and willing to take on board the advice of staff with a reflective mindset.


• Experience or a keen interest in working with pupils with special educational needs. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.


• A commitment to inclusive education and continuous professional development.

What we offer:

You will:

• have access to training and development opportunities through our Teaching School Hub and Unity Institute


• benefit from excellent career development opportunities access to our comprehensive staff benefits package including discounted; retail, holidays, tech, gym / leisure facilities and much more


• be supported through our extensive trust-wide wellbeing offer

For more information

Please read the Job Description (pdf) and Candidate Information Pack (pdf) or alternatively, please visit our website.

Closing date:

9 am, 1 September 2026.

Interview date:

7 September 2026.

In line with safer recruitment, we cannot accept CVs. Incomplete application forms may result in candidates not being shortlisted.

Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All successful candidates will be subject to rigorous pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS. We are also committed to equality, diversity and fair recruitment practices, and we oppose all forms of unlawful discrimination.

We value inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you wish to work part-time or as a job-share, we will accommodate this wherever possible. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups.