TEACHING ASSISTANT 2A

Lancashire County Council; Preston; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

Ashton Primary School, located on the outskirts of Preston, invites applications for a dedicated individual to join our specialist SEND unit. This part-time, term-time only position offers a nurturing, structured environment aimed at personalised pupil support.

Shortlisting and interviews will be conducted in November 2026, with a DBS check carried out for shortlisted candidates. Salary is quoted as full-time equivalent; successful candidates will be paid pro-rata.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 or above qualification appropriate to the post.
• Experience working with children with SEND, particularly autism.
• Patient, empathetic and resilient with ability to build trusting relationships with pupils.
• Calm, positive attitude, good communication skills and ability to work as part of a supportive team.

Skills

Patience

Empathy

Resilience

Relationship building

Communication skills

Teamwork

Calm demeanor

Education

NVQ level 2 or above

Job description

Location: Ashton Primary School, Ainsdale Drive, Ashton, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1TU (196 on roll).

Tel: [phone].

School website: www.ashton.lancs.sch.uk.

Summary: Ashton Primary School is a welcoming one-form entry mainstream school located on the outskirts of Preston. We pride ourselves on being a nurturing, inclusive community where every child is valued and supported. Our school is filled with happy, enthusiastic learners who are eager to grow, explore and achieve their full potential. At Ashton, we foster a warm and caring environment where all children feel safe, respected and inspired to succeed.

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our team at Ashton Primary School, working within our specialist SEND unit. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of children who benefit from a nurturing, structured and personalised approach to learning.

If you are passionate about inclusive education and want to help children thrive in a setting tailored to their needs, we would love to hear from you. Due to the unique nature of the SEND unit, we strongly encourage all candidates to book a tour of the school prior to applying. Please contact the school office on 01772 728052 to book a slot from the following options:

• Thursday 1 October at 11am
• Tuesday 6 October at 10am
• Thursday 15 October at 2pm

Closing date is Friday 30 October 2026 at 12pm.

Shortlisting will take place on Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Interviews will take place on Monday 16 November 2026.

This position is part‑time, term‑time only; please not the salary quoted is a full‑time equivalent. If successful, the salary received will be paid on a pro‑rata basis.

Please note that in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates.

Please note that this vacancy closes at Noon on 30 October 2026.

Essential Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 or above qualification - appropriate to the post (or equivalent).

Desirable Qualifications

• Please see attached person specification.

Essential Experience

• The ideal candidate will have previous experience working with children with SEND, particularly those with autism.
• We are seeking someone who is patient, empathetic, resilient, and able to build strong, trusting relationships with pupils.
• A calm and positive attitude, good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a supportive team are essential.

Desirable Experience

• Please see attached person specification.

Proposed Interview Date

16/11/2026

Equal Opportunities statement

An Equal Opportunities Employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community. The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a ‘disclosure’. Information provided by you or the Disclosure and Barring Service will be dealt with in a confidential manner in accordance with the DBS’s Code of Practice. You may view the Code of Practice on the DBS website at www.gov.uk/dbs or alternatively a copy is available on request. Lancashire County Council has a Handling of DBS Certificate Information Policy and a Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders this is available from the recruiting manager to applicants who are asked to complete a DBS application.

The County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all people in terms of recruitment, selection and employment, and is a Disability Confident employer, which means that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria in the person specification will be interviewed. However, commitment to this standard is on an individual school basis and, therefore, if you are applying for a position within a school, you need to check with the school whether they have made the decision to comply with this standard.

Please note that we can only consider applications from candidates who are legally entitled to work in the UK.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.