Senior Teaching Assistant

Christchurch Infant School, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2AE

18 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  28 June 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  10 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • HLTA (higher level teaching assistant)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: Monday to Friday term time 8.30am- 3.30pm (1 hour for lunch)
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Between £26824 and £29540

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for an outstanding individual who will relish the opportunity to:

• Liaise with class teachers and support staff
• Cover classes in EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2
• Develop a lifelong love of learning
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people in accordance with our Safeguarding and Child Protection policies.

What the school offers its staff

• A welcoming, child‑centred school community where every member of staff is valued.
• Supportive, collaborative colleagues who work as a team to provide the very best for our children.
• Enthusiastic, happy pupils who love learning and make every day rewarding.
• A strong commitment to professional development, including access to high‑quality training and coaching.
• A leadership team that prioritises staff wellbeing, work–life balance, and open communication.
• An inclusive ethos where every child and adult is supported to succeed.
• Automatic membership of the Dorset Local Government Pension Scheme
• Free, confidential access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which offers a range of counselling services plus financial, legal and practical support from qualified professionals on a range of personal issues and access to online health and wellbeing resources
• A trust-wide intranet, where we share our news, information and resources
• Local discounts negotiated on behalf of our staff e.g. gym memberships, hair and beauty salons, chiropractic care, cycle shops, restaurants, motoring services, and retail/DIY stores
• Access to national discounts on a wide variety of huge brands
• Free on-site parking
• The opportunity to work within Twynham Learning; a progressive multi-academy trust
• The opportunity to work in one of the most beautiful areas of the South Coast

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.

Job Description:Senior Teaching Assistant

PostDetails

School/setting:

ChristchurchInfantSchool

Post type:

Support Staff

Grade/Pay Level:

Grade 7

Responsible to:

AssistantHeadteacher

Main Purpose

Complement the professional work of qualified teachers by taking responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision.Playa significant role in the planning,deliveryand monitoring of learning activities.

The rolepredominately focusseson working with large groups or whole classes without the presence of the teacher(s), butalso involves some teaching and learningsupportworking alongsideteacher(s).

Duties and Responsibilities

To undertake the following, subject to the direction and supervision of a qualified teacherin accordance witharrangements made by theHeadteacher of the school:

• Planningand preparing lessons and courses for pupils, in collaboration with teacher(s), or independently.

• Monitor pupils’ participation and progress.Feedback to pupils and colleagues on pupils’ learning andbehaviour.Contribute to maintaining andanalysingrecords of pupils’ progress.Reporting on the development,progressand attainment of pupils.

• To contribute effectively to the selection and preparation of teaching resources that meet the diversity of pupils’ needs and interests.

• To contribute to the planning of opportunities for pupils to learn in out-of-school contexts,in accordance withschool policies and procedures.

• Delivering lessons to pupils.Monitoringpupils’ responses to learning tasks andmodifyingapproachesaccordingly.

• Using clearly structured teaching and challenging learning activities, interest and motivate pupils, and advance their independence as learners.Organise and manage safely the learning activities, the physical teaching space.

• Promote and support the inclusion of all pupils in the learning activities in which they are involved.

• Usebehaviourmanagement strategies, in line with the school’s policy and procedures, which contribute to a purposeful learning environment.

• Advance pupils’ learning in a range of classroom settings, including working with individuals, smallgroupsand whole classes where the assigned teacher is not present.

• Where relevant, guideand overseethe work of other adults(e.g.Teaching Assistants)supporting teaching and learning in the classroom.

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with pupils to support their learning.Recogniseand respond effectively to equal opportunities issues as they arise, including by challenging stereotyped views, and by challenging bullying or harassment, following relevant policies and procedures.

• Support teachers in evaluating pupils’ learning needs and progress through a range of assessment activities.

• Assessing and recording the development,progressand attainment of pupils.

• Havehigh expectationsof all pupils and respect for their social, cultural, linguistic,religiousand ethnic backgrounds.

• Liaise sensitively and effectively with parents and carers, recognising their roles in pupils’ learning.

• Follow schoolpolicy and procedures.

Safeguarding Duties and Responsibilities

• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young peoplein accordance withthe school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection policies.

OtherDuties

All Twynham Learning staff may periodically be expected to carry out tasks and duties within their area of competence that are not listedherein, as directed, to meet the needs of the trust. Theparticular dutiesand responsibilities may vary from time to time.

Twynham Learning Attributes for all Staff

• Ambition for excellence

• Professionalism

• Humility

• Championing change

• Inclusiveness

• Positivity

• Community-mindedness

• Being collaborative

Qualifications,Knowledge,Skillsand AttributesRequired

Essential:

• Education equivalent to GCSE Grade C in English, Mathematics and Science orNVQ level 2 or 3 / BTEC in Learning Support, orequiavalent

• Experience of pupils who haveadditionalor special educational needs

• Be familiar with the school curriculum, the age-related expectations of pupils, the main teachingmethodsand the testing/examination frameworks in the subjects and age ranges in which they are involved.

• Interpreting plans to meet individual or group needs

• Creating resources to support an individual’s learning

• Ability to relate to children in and out of the classroom

• Flexibility and ability to work as part of a team

• Patience and a sense of humour

• Warmth and approachability

• Self-motivation and ability to use own time effectively

• Ability to keep safe working practice

• Knowledge and understanding to be able to help the pupils they work with make progress with theirlearning,thiscould be subject based or linked to a specific role (e.g.in support of an age phase or pupils withparticular needs). Be able toacquirefurther knowledge to contribute effectively and with confidencetothe classes in which they are involved.

• Ability to evaluate children’s progress and feedback to teaching staff

Desirable:

• Experience in employinga range of strategies toestablisha purposeful learning environment and to promote goodbehaviour.

• Understand the aims, content, teaching strategies and intended outcomes for the lessons in which they are involved, and understand the place of these in the related teachingprogramme.

• Knowledge ofhow to use ICT to advance pupils’learning, anduse common ICT tools for their own and pupils’ benefit.

• Recent successful experience as a Teaching Assistant or similar position within an educational environment

• Willingness to undertake further relevant study or training

Notes

• This job description may be amended at any time in consultation with the postholder.

Glossary

• Explanations of any abbreviations or jargon contained in this job description can be found in our Twynham Learning Glossary.

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Christchurch Infant School

• School type: Academies, Does not apply, ages 5 to 7
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 303 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 7
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Christchurch Infant School website
• Email address: dionne.johnson@cisdorset.org
• Phone number: 01202 485851
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/christchurch-infant-school-christchurch

Four form entry community Infant School in the lovely town of Christchurch, Dorset.

Arranging a visit to Christchurch Infant School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email dionne.johnson@cisdorset.org.

School location

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