Pre School Assistant

Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7BY

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  20 November 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  6 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full time equivalent salary: £17,589.00 - £17,865.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 3, Point 3 - 4 (subject to experience)

Pre School Assistant job summary

Salary: Grade 3, Point 3-4: £17,589 - £17,865 per annum (subject to experience)*

Contract: 30 hours per week, 38.4 weeks per year (term time plus 4 inset days), fixed term until July 2027

*Annual leave entitlement is included within salary payments and paid in 12 equal monthly instalments. Annual leave reconciliations are carried out at the start and end of employment and may result in salary adjustments when joining, leaving or changing roles within the Trust.

Do you have a passion for helping young children learn, grow and thrive? We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our Preschool team and help give our youngest learners the very best start to their education.

Working in our nurturing and engaging Early Years environment, you will support children through play-based learning, helping them to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning. You will work closely with colleagues to create a safe, stimulating and inclusive setting where every child is encouraged to explore, discover and achieve their potential.

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a friendly and supportive school community where children are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are an experienced Early Years practitioner or looking to develop your career in childcare and education, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about supporting young children's development
• Creates positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues
• Is caring, patient and enthusiastic
• Works well as part of a team
• Has high expectations for children's learning and wellbeing
• Desirable: Level 3 NVQ qualification in Early Years
• Desirable: Food Hygiene and Paediatric First Aid certificates

In return, we offer a welcoming team, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a real difference to children's early learning experiences every day.

For more information about our school, please click here

To find out more about the benefits of working for SAST, click here

Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the school, please do not hesitate to contact the school office via office@bucklandnewton.dorset.sch.uk or on 01300 345393.

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This will be part of safer recruitment check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. 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.

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

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 will not be accepted for this application.

About Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School

• Organisation type: Academy, Church of England, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 110 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Buckland Newton Church of England Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/buckland-newton-church-of-england-primary-school

Buckland Newton is a very successful village school and the highest achieving school in the area. We are equidistant from both Dorchester and Sherborne and our school is very much part of the local community – we have strong links with the local church. We have wonderful support from the governing body, parents, a band of volunteers from the community and our FBNS (Friends of Buckland Newton School). We are committed to excellence in education and aim to excite children’s imaginations through a range of engaging and challenging learning experiences within a Christian environment.

School location

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