Teaching Assistant

Cheney School; Packmoor; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheney School, a large secondary in Headington, Oxford, seeks a warm Teaching Assistant to support students in the SEND department. You will help create a calm, motivating environment for pupils with learning needs and collaborate with a dedicated staff team to raise attainment.

The role is full-time (37 hours per week) during term time with 5 INSET days, and progression to Grade 6 after a six‑month probation. Cheney School values teamwork, career development and safeguarding.

Job description

About this Role

We are looking for a Teaching Assistant to join our team of hard working, friendly people within the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) department. We are looking for someone who is warm, caring and brings out the best in all children. A key aspect of this role will be providing a calm and motivational environment for our students, particularly those with learning difficulties. The salary is based on a full time role of 37 hours per week, working during term time, plus an additional 5 INSET days. The successful applicant will move Grade 6 on successful completion of the 6 month probationary period.

Cheney School is a large secondary school based in Headington, Oxford. The school is thriving. There is a culture of collaboration, support and care throughout the school, leading to higher standards and greater job satisfaction every year. Our school motto is “think for yourself; act for others”; these are not just empty words, and are an essential part of the way Cheney runs. We couldn’t do what we do without our fantastic staff team.

We offer a positive workplace with an exceptionally supportive and open-minded staff body. Visitors always comment that people like each other at Cheney.

We provide excellent opportunities for career progression, training and advancement; the range of Continuing Professional Development is second to none.

• excellent opportunities for career progression, training and advancement
• the range of Continuing Professional Development is second to none

You can read the outcome of our most recent Ofsted inspection here.

If you would like to have a confidential conversation with Astrid Fox about the role, prior to application, then please email [e-mail] or telephone [phone].

The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.

Cheney School is part of the River Learning Trust

RLT believes education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.

OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.

OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.

OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.

Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including:

• extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities
• wellbeing and staff networks
• access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff

For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.

This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

The River Learning Trust and Cheney School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link R