Teaching Assistant - Literacy

The City Academy, Hackney; London Borough of Hackney; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

The City Academy Hackney is seeking a Literacy specialist to join our committed Teaching Assistants team within the Faculty of Learning. The role focuses on supporting pupils, including those with special educational needs, to access the curriculum and build confidence in literacy.

You will work across classrooms and groups, applying engaging strategies to motivate learners while upholding safeguarding standards.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with special educational needs and diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to foster literacy development and confidence in learners.
• Committed to safeguarding and working as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Support students' access to the curriculum under faculty direction.
• Work in classrooms and small groups to promote learning and confidence.
• Use creativity to motivate learners and manage challenging behaviour.
• Collaborate with teachers and TAs to raise attainment.

Skills

Special educational needs

Literacy support

Team collaboration

Behaviour management

Student motivation

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

About Us

COLAT is driven by an unwavering ambition to bethe best. We believe exceptional people create outstanding schools, transforming lives and shaping the future of every student. We have academies located in north, south and east London combining the heritage and tradition of the Corporation of London with a genuinely innovative, enterprising, and entrepreneurial ethos. We are also committed to providing training and development to all our staff, plus excellent career advancement opportunities within our evolving Trust.

We:

- believe strongly in the transformational nature of education operating schools in areas of significant disadvantage.

- understand that strong outcomes lead to improved life chances for our students, so we are unapologetically results driven.

- adopt a ‘warm/strict’ approach, combining high expectations with care and support meaning that we never compromise on standards or expectations

- ensure that no student’s background becomes a reason for low expectations.

provide an environment where students can learn without disruption

- maintain exemplary standards of behaviour, with systems, rituals and norms that instil strong habits

- take great pride in fostering an exceptionally positive learning environment and we work meticulously to maintain our strong ethos and culture.

School completes

About the Role (if there are specific aspects of the person specification you would like highlighted in the advert, please add them in this section)

The City Academy Hackney is seeking to appoint a Literacy specialist to our committed team of Teaching Assistants. Our TAs sit within the Faculty of Learning, a large, well-established department, that works to ensure every pupil attains their full potential, and becomes a resilient, confident and compassionate individual, ready to make a positive contribution to society.

This will be your ideal job move if you:

• Are Inspired to help young people overcome personal challenges and achieve in education
• Have a passion for working with children and young people with special educational needs
• Are considering teaching as a career
• And are looking for a job that can work alongside family responsibilities.

The work will be full-time, term time only, for 39 weeks a year. There may be options to be involved in additional studies sessions and tutoring on weekends that can provide extra paid hours.

The role involves working under the direction of faculty staff and teachers to support students’ access to the curriculum. You will be based in classrooms as well as in group or individual formats, and will build supportive relationships with students, promoting their confidence and self-esteem. Your skills and creativity will be in use to motivate and encourage learning, as well as to manage challenging behaviour - it is a varied and demanding job, but one that offers big rewards.

For this position you should be educated to degree level, or equivalent, and able to support Literacy. You must be able to work effectively in a team, maintain a professional attitude at all times, and communicate clearly. An understanding of diverse social backgrounds and awareness of safeguarding issues are essential. Familiarity with special needs education, neuro-diversity or disability would be an advantage.

About you

You will be:

- fully aligned with our approach, understanding the critical role that all staff play in supporting a behavioural and learning culture.

- highly effective and will strive to surpass what has been achieved.

- committed to creating an environment that promotes academic, creative, sporting, linguistic and personal achievement.

This is an exciting time to be part of the City of London Academies Trust, and we very much hope that you will be inspired to want to join us. We are committed to investing in the next generation of COLAT people who will embody the Trust’s culture, values and ethos.

Interview are scheduled to take place in the week commencing: 09/11/2026

City of London Academies Trust supports Equal Opportunities Employment.

City of London Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, including enhanced DBS checks and a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the standards which flows from City of London Academies Trust vision and values.

Our schools are based in the heart of an evolving community in Hackney , and we value the diversity of our workforce. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.

The role is covered by part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

City of London Academies Trust Company Registration No. 04504128.