Early Years SEND Teaching Assistant

Witney Community Primary School, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 1HL

11 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP after 23.02.2026

• Closing date

  8 February 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  27 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £25,185.00 - £25,583.00 Annually (FTE)

Early Years SEND Teaching Assistant job summary

Job description

Witney Community Primary School Nursery has an exciting opportunity for a part time, term time only, Nursery Assistant to join our Team for approx 23 hours per week, worked every morning, from 8.45am to 1.30pm . This contract will initially be based in our nursery and is likely to increase to support the children's transition into reception in September 2026.

This is a perfect opportunity for someone who is looking to join a friendly team at our well-respected School in Witney.

You will be made to feel very welcome from day one as you join our community of like-minded Teachers and support staff, wonderful children and supportive parents and carers.

We are looking for someone with a full and relevant level 2 qualification in early years’ provision. We support staff financially to undertake their level 3 in Early Years, if required. We want someone who exerts enthusiasm, embraces responsibility and who can make a difference to each and every one of the children they interact with every single day. A proactive, professional and ‘make a difference’ approach is essential for this role. Experience working with children with Special Educational Needs is strongly desirable.

If you are looking for a nursery assistant role, and are willing to support these children into our reception class, we can offer a role working with a friendly and supportive team in a fantastic working environment in Witney - this role is for you……

The Role:

The ideal person:

You will be able to:

• Plan and carry out activities in line with the requirements of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) and SEND guidance.
• Teach all areas of the foundation stage, which is focused on helping children to achieve early learning goals
• Be flexible and able to work on a part-time contract , possibly increasing to a full time role in September.
• Develop lesson plans and activity plans to motivate children and imaginatively using resources to help them learn in line with the ethos of our nursery.
• You will be required to record observations and summarise the children's achievements. Focus on optimum child development and preparation for a successful transition to primary school education.

You will have experience of:

Knowledge and Understanding relevant to the position - essential

Good understanding of best practice in teaching and learning, particularly as it relates to achieving high rates of progress for children of primary age - essential

- Experience of working with children with SEND

Good subject knowledge of the three Prime areas and the 4 Specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Understanding of effective strategies for maintaining high standards of discipline within the classroom and in accordance with the school’s policy - essential

An understanding of equality of opportunity issues and how they can be addressed in schools - essential

And bring with you:

NVQ Level 2.

Attitude and aptitude to make a significant contribution to our School ethos that promotes high achievement

Drive to achieve results - a commitment to raising achievement

Team player aptitude

a respect and fondness for children;

excellent communication skills;

good listening skills;

the capacity to learn quickly;

excellent organisational skills;

the ability to inspire and enthuse young children;

energy, resourcefulness, responsibility, patience and a caring nature;

ability to work independently, as well as being able to work in a team;

a sense of humour and the ability to keep things in perspective.

The Package:

In return you will:

• Receive a good hourly rate of £13.05 (pay award pending in April)
• Term time only working
• Generous paid holidays and bank holidays
• Excellent Company Pension and benefits
• Continuing professional development
• Have the opportunity to work with a great team in a wonderfully supportive working environment

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 and 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.

If you would like to have a confidential conversation with Donna McGowan, Nursery manager, about the role, prior to application, then please email dmcgowan@witneycp.org or telephone 01993 702388.

The River Learning Trust and Witney Community Primary 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 RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

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.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

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

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Witney Community Primary School

• School type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 232 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Witney Community Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/witney-community-primary-school-witney

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