Learning Support Assistant
Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 2NJ17 days remaining to apply
Job start date
5 January 2026
Closing date
12 December 2025 at 10am
Date listed
25 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £16,082.07 - £16,336.65 pro rata (£25,584.00 - £25,989.00 FTE) per annum
Learning Support Assistant job summary
‘Are you passionate about education and eager to make a lasting impact on young minds?’
Application Deadline:10am, Friday 12th December 2025
Interviews to be held: W/C 15th December
Start Date:5th January 2026
Join Our Outstanding Team at Orchard Head!
About the role
We are seeking an enthusiastic, hardworking, motivated Learning Support Assistant to become part of our team at Orchard Head school. We are looking for someone with a proactive 'can-do' attitude and a passion for doing whatever it takes. Beyond that, we are looking for an individual who demonstrates the potential to excel in their role.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
- supporting pupil’s learning and attending to pupils’ personal needs in order to support teaching and learning in the classroom and across the school.
- supporting the preparation, planning and implementation of individual and group learning activities and intervention programmes across the school.
- There may also be times when you are required to work with pupils who have additional needs.
This role is a Permanent position starting from 05/01/2026, working 27.5 hours per week, term time plus two days.
The working pattern for this position is 8:45 am - 3:15pm, Monday to Friday.
Orchard Head Junior, Infant & Nursery School – Where Success Begins
- Renowned for strong academic foundations and exceptional pupil progress
- Consistently achieving above-national Key Stage 2 attainment and progress outcomes
- Committed to nurturing confident, independent learners with a lifelong love for learning
- Enriched curriculum offering personalised development opportunities and memorable experiences
- A thriving school community celebrating success and striving for continued growth
In our 2025 staff survey with Edurio, our Trust received fantastic results, with 85% of staff saying tey would recommend Pontefract Academies Trust as a good place to work – significantly higher than the national benchmark of 73%.
At Orchard Head Junior, Infant & Nursery School, our own survey results were encouraging. Here’s what our staff had to say…
“I have felt valued and have felt so lucky to have been given the opportunity to work in such a wonderful, caring and supportive workplace.”
“I would not hesitate to recommend this school as every child is valued and given everything possible to achieve their potential. The staff are very dedicated and conscientious. I feel lucky to be part of Orchard Head.”
About Pontefract Academies Trust
At Pontefract Academies Trust, we believe every role plays a vital part in helping our children succeed - and that includes our brilliant lunchtime team.
We’re a family of nine schools (seven primary and two secondary), and we’re proud of the exceptional progress we’re making. Our schools consistently achieve results well above the national average, and several have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Our academic success is just as important as the environment we create, providing clean, safe, and welcoming spaces where staff and pupils can thrive.
We value every member of our team. In our most recent staff survey, we received fantastic feedback and won national and regional awards for our workplace culture. Our staff tell us they feel appreciated, supported, and part of something meaningful.
We’re also growing. With a proposed merger with Ark Schools in 2026, we’re excited about the future and the new opportunities it will bring for everyone in our Trust.
If you take pride in your work, enjoy being part of a friendly team, and want to make a real difference in your community, we’d love to welcome you to Pontefract Academies Trust.
What can we offer you?
Be part of a team that values your growth, wellbeing and work-life balance. We offer a supportive environment with benefits designed to help you thrive:
- Development Opportunities Exciting career and leadership pathways through our Everyday Development (EDD) Framework - a simple, flexible approach to continuous learning, career growth, and wellbeing.
- Pension Scheme Join either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or West Yorkshire Pension Scheme from day one, with a generous employer contribution.
- Wellbeing Access to free eyecare via Specsavers, free flu vaccinations and a full wellbeing package via Schools Advisory Service (SAS), including physiotherapy and support for legal, health, finance, and personal matters.
- Work-Life Balance Generous annual leave paid as part of your annual salary (starting at 26 days, rising to 33 based on service and grade) plus 8 bank holidays. For 2025/26, staff can enjoy three Everyday Development Days for self-directed time to recharge and reflect.
- Family Friendly Childcare Voucher and comprehensive family-friendly policies to help you balance work and home life.
- Cycle to Work Scheme for a greener commute
- Discounts & Rewards Blue Light Card, Discounts for Teachers membership, discounted gym memberships, and savings at major retailers including O2.
You can find further information about staff benefits, development opportunities and why you should work with us in the attached ‘Working for us’ booklet and by visiting our website.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline:10am, Friday 12th December 2025
- Interviews to be held: W/C 15th December
- Start Date:5th January 2026
Application Process
- Complete an application form via our website
Important Links
Pontefract Academies Trust website
Trust Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2028
Orchard Head J,I & Nursery School
Contact Information
- Tel: 01977 723495
- Email: recruitment@orchardhead.patrust.org.uk
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Orchard Head Junior and Infant and Nursery School
- School type
- Academy, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary
- School size
- 358 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
At Orchard Head J, I & N School, we aspire to be a happy, vibrant and successful school. We believe in laying the foundations on which children can build their futures. Our staff work hard to instill an early love for learning; they aim to capture and nurture it, enabling our children to grow into confident, independent and successful individuals.
School location
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