Teaching Assistant

LeighAcademiesTrust; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational trust in Maidstone is seeking a passionate Teaching Assistant to support primary-aged children starting January 2026. The successful candidate will collaborate with staff to improve learning outcomes and exhibit strong communication skills. This fixed-term role offers a competitive salary of £18,990 annually along with development opportunities. If you are dedicated to fostering a positive learning environment, apply early to ensure consideration for this exciting opportunity.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Local Government Pension Scheme

Access to a free virtual GP Service

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Relevant experience/qualifications in working with primary-aged children.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and adults.
• Demonstrated effective behavior management skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the teaching and learning of primary-aged children.
• Work collaboratively with staff to improve pupil learning.
• Utilize initiative in a supportive environment.

Skills

Communication

Behavior management

Teamwork

Resilience

Education

Experience with primary-aged children

High standards of spoken and written English and Mathematics

Job description

Competitive salary with progression opportunities + Local Government Pension Scheme + 24 / 7 access to a free virtual GP Service + collaborative MAT network + additional LAT benefits .

Leigh Academy Bearsted has an exceptional opportunity for a committed, enthusiastic and passionate Teaching Assistant to join us from January 2026. Becoming a member of the Leigh Academy Bearsted team will enable you to work with like-minded colleagues who share your goals and ambitions. You will be part of a team that provides an outstanding education for all of our pupils through creative, carefully sequenced and highly effective inquiry led learning, where all learners are at the very core of driving our curriculum.

The successful candidate will need to have relevant experience and / or qualifications in working with primary-aged children, as this is where the role sits. We are also looking for proven high standards of both spoken and written English and Mathematics. Being able to communicate effectively with children and adults is essential, together with a friendly and approachable manner. Our newly appointed Teaching Assistant will be able to work using their own initiative and demonstrate effective behaviour management skills. In return, they will join a supportive environment with plenty of development opportunities within the academy and across the wider Trust.

Please note that interviews for this position are planned for Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th January 2026, but strong applications may be considered sooner. We encourage early applications to avoid missing this opportunity.

We are particularly looking for someone who :

• is dedicated to the job and prioritises the needs of the children in their care;
• has experience of working within EYFS / KS1 / KS2;
• is resilient and solution-focused;
• is committed to working as part of a team with everyone.

In return, we can offer :

• An inspiring and supportive staff team committed to providing a good level of education for every pupil.
• An excellent offer of continuing professional development for all staff.
• An exciting and creative learning setting where everyone is listened to and there is a very strong teamwork ethic.
• Many wider career opportunities through the Leigh Academies Trust.

This is a fixed term position for one year offering an actual salary of £18,990 per annum (£25,136 full time equivalent) based on 32.5 hours per week, Term Time + 1 week of inset.

Working with us at Leigh Academy Bearsted

Leigh Academy Bearsted is an "exceptional academy in every way" as judged by Ofsted in January 2023. We are a growing academy, housed in a new, spacious, and modern building with well-resourced classrooms and extensive outdoor learning areas.

At our core is a broad and balanced curriculum, significantly enhanced as an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) World School. This inquiry-led framework fosters independent learners and challenging experiences, developing a genuine thirst for learning. We focus on the whole child, nurturing social, emotional, and academic skills, encouraging them to challenge, question, and take ownership of their learning.

Ofsted highlighted our outstanding ongoing professional development for staff, delivered both internally and by Trust curriculum experts. We are committed to providing a safe, caring environment where children feel empowered to take risks, embrace learning, and develop pride in their achievements.

Discover more about our vibrant academy by visiting our website.

Applying for this Opportunity

Thank you for your interest in joining us. If you’d like to find out more about this role or arrange a visit to the academy, please don’t hesitate to contact Amy Wenban (Recruitment Advisor): [e-mail] / 01634 412 205.

To support your application, we recommend viewing the Job Pack by clicking here, which outlines the full role responsibilities and person specification. This will guide you in preparing a strong application and understanding what we’re looking for.

Early applications are encouraged, as we reserve the right to interview before the closing date. All applications must be submitted through our online application form prior to the deadline.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity

Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates – you can read more about it on our Careers site. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.