1:1 Teaching Assistant

Thornford CofE Primary School, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6QY

11 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2025

• Closing date

  17 June 2025 at 9am

• Date listed

  3 June 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £15,606.00 - £15,854.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 5, Scale Point 5-6

1:1 Teaching Assistant job summary

Salary: Grade 5, SCP 5-6 : £15,606 - £15,854 per annum (subject to experience)

Contract: 27 hours 5 minutes per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus inset days), fixed term until August 2026

We are seeking a caring, committed, and enthusiastic 1:1 Teaching Assistant to join our team and provide dedicated support for a child starting Reception in September.

This role is a wonderful opportunity for someone passionate about early years education and making a positive impact on a child’s learning and development. The successful candidate will work closely with the class teacher, SENDCo, and wider staff to ensure the child feels safe, supported, and included in all aspects of school life. Job share considered.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide 1:1 support to a child in Reception, in line with their individual learning and care needs.
• Support the child’s emotional, social, and academic development in the classroom and during other school activities.
• Work closely with teaching staff and parents to implement and adapt learning strategies.
• Contribute to a positive and inclusive learning environment.
• Assist with record keeping and observations as required.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with young children, ideally in an EYFS or primary school setting.
• Understands the importance of building trust and consistency in early years relationships.
• Is patient, nurturing, and adaptable to the changing needs of the child.
• Has excellent communication skills and works well as part of a team.
• Has relevant qualifications (e.g. Level 2 or 3 Teaching Assistant, or equivalent experience – desirable but not essential).

Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the School, please do not hesitate to contact the School Office at office@thornford.dorset.sch.uk or on 01935 872706 who will be happy to arrange this.

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

Commitment to safeguarding

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will meet the person specification and pass all safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs are not accepted.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

About Thornford CofE Primary School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary
• School size: 100 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Thornford CofE Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/thornford-cofe-primary-school

At Thornford School we are a small rural Church of England primary school set in beautiful grounds in a small village, close to the market town of Sherborne. We have strong links with the local church, St. Mary Magdalene and our golden thread: ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself’ Luke 6:31, is used to promote positive attitudes and behaviours amongst our pupils. From their first day in Reception, our children come into a safe, happy learning environment, where they are nurtured. Hard work and a growth mindset are encouraged and there is

provision for the children’s individual needs in order for pupils to achieve their potential. They are well-prepared socially and academically for the next stage of their education by our dedicated staff. We teach a creative curriculum based on the 2014 National Curriculum. All the staff have a shared ethos about childcentred education, working together to develop the whole child, encouraging lively enquiring minds; the ability to

question and argue rationally; apply themselves and therefore learn, effectively. We teach the children to become responsible, caring individuals, who respect the values of others. Furthermore, we foster a positive attitude towards the local and global community; developing in the children a sense of their place within it. I am proud to say that

Thornford has been judged as, ‘Outstanding’ in its last two Ofsted inspections (May 2007 and 2014) and also in our SIAMS church schools inspection (July 2017). We know the importance of a close partnership between home and school, based on trust, confidence and honesty. We look forward to welcoming you to our school.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Dorset, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole