Specialist Teaching and Learning Assistant

Esteem South Academy, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0TW

31 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  12 October 2025 at 12:59am

• Date listed

  10 September 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £1.00 - £1.00 Annually (FTE) Support Pay Scale - Grade 08 (Points 12 - 15) Actual Salary £24,763 - £26,407 (+NJC Pay award uplift)

Specialist Teaching and Learning Assistant job summary

Job Title: Specialist Teaching and Learning Assistant

Location: Esteem South Academy

Grade/Scale: Support Pay Scale Grade 8

Contract: 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year.

Esteem South Academy is seeking a flexible, committed, enthusiastic and highly skilled STLA to assist permanently excluded, or at risk, pupils with learning and engagement. Pupils who attend the academy have challenging and often complex needs, and exhibit behaviours that prevent them from attending a mainstream school. You may be allocated to a tutor group. The role will involve supporting pupils in class to engage in their learning, and supporting pupils at break and lunch times. This role will involve working with small groups, or with pupils on a one to one basis to meet their needs as directed by the class teacher or Head of School. Classes are small with approximately 10 pupils.

Applicants should have good knowledge and experience of working with disaffected pupils in a school or other alternative setting. An affinity for pupils with behaviour, emotional and social difficulties is an essential quality for this challenging but rewarding opportunity. Applicants should be resilient, have high expectations, and a sense of humour. You must be able to build positive relationships with our pupils and think outside of the box. You will be responsible for contributing to a small staffing team to ensure that the site runs smoothly, and this may involve stepping up to deliver lessons in staff absence. A growth mindset and positive ethos are essential characteristics that we are looking for.

You are required to have daily access to a car with business use included on your car insurance before you begin the role. For example you may be required to transport pupils in your own car, carry out home learning, support with safe and well visits for non- attenders or with transition visits.

Potential candidates are strongly advised to directly contact the Headteacher or Head of School to discuss the academy and relevant experience prior to making an application. Suitable candidates will be invited to an informal meeting on site to further explore the role.

Individual's must be willing to contribute fully to the life of the academy and be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Please see the attached Application pack including a Welcome from The Head Teacher and more information about Esteem South Academy and Esteem MAT.

Please review the attached Job Description to learn more about the role and what we are looking for in the successful candidate.

Benefits Include:

- Teacher's Pension Scheme / LGPS Pension Scheme (16.6% employer contributions)

- Generous holiday entitlement

- Access to Westfield Health membership scheme including cashback schemes for health and retail benefits, discounted gym memberships, and free confidential advice.

- Access to National College CPD platform.

For further information, please contact Janine Dix (Headteacher) on janine.dix@esteemnorthacademy.co.uk or Sally Petcher the Head of School on spetcher@esteemsouthacademy.co.uk.

We reserve the right to interview suitable candidates upon application and may close the application process prior to this date

Esteem Multi-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its students. We expect all staff, volunteers and agency staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status.

Perfection is not required, if you are excited by the role and our organisation, but not sure if you meet 100% of the criteria, we would still love to hear from you!

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

Esteem Multi-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its students. We expect all staff, volunteers and agency staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided.

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 Esteem South Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 5 to 16
• School size: 16 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Esteem South Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/south-derbyshire-support-centre-swadlincote

South Derbyshire Support Centre (SDSC) is an Alternative Provision Academy based in Newhall, South Derbyshire, providing education for pupils who are at risk of permanent exclusion, or who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools. There are 26 students on role with a third having Educational Health Care Plans and the remainder having a variety of special education needs. We also work with local primary and secondary schools to offer short term placements as a prevention to permanent exclusion.

The vision for the South Derbyshire Support Centre is to create a first class, holistic educational establishment that re-engages vulnerable children back in to learning. We wholeheartedly believe that the most vulnerable young people in our community deserve to have the same high standards of education as their peers. Our aim is to equip every child with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable successful integration back into mainstream education or for our Key Stage 4 pupils, to successfully transition into education, training or employment.

Further information about our academies can be found on the websites at

https://www.sdsc.derbyshire.sch.uk

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