Teaching Assistant
Aspire Academy, Welling, Kent, DA16 1JB18 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
2 November 2026 at 8am
Date listed
15 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £25,868 actual (£30,081 FTE)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Teaching Assistant
Location: Aspire Academy, South Gipsy Road, Welling DA16 1JB
Position Status: Full-Time, This job is initially a 1 year contract
Contractual Hours: 37 Hours per week - 8.30am-4:00 pm – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday Friday 8.30am-4.30pm – Tuesday
Contractual Weeks: Term Time Only (39 weeks per year)
Salary: LSEAT Harmonised 18 £30,081 (actual)
Post Start Date: ASAP
Closing Date: Monday 2nd November
Your Opportunity
We are seeking to appoint enthusiastic teaching assistants to complete our team. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. The successful candidates will join a friendly, supportive team with opportunities for further training. Previous experience is not essential, but we are looking for Teaching Assistants who are creative, resilient and enjoy a challenge. A caring and positive approach to working with young people from a range of backgrounds and diagnoses which include SEMH, ASD and ADHD is a must!
Your main responsibilities will include:
- Supporting pupils within a class of 8 - 10 pupils to access the curriculum
- Working one to one or small groups with pupils delivering intervention programmes such as phonics
- Offering emotional support to pupils
- Supporting the creation of a calm and productive working environment
- Support students’ individual behaviour targets
- Support students to enable them to participate fully in the social and academic activities within the Academy.
We are looking for a committed candidate with these qualifications:
- GCSE Grade 4 or equivalent in English and Maths (desirable)
- Good numeracy and literacy skills
Please see the attached Job Description for further details.
What benefits can you expect?
The development of our employees at Aspire Academy is paramount.
To support this, we offer these benefits:
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Full induction programme
- Team Teach positive behaviour training: Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviour
- Weekly CPD training
- Employee Assistant Programme with 24 hour counselling and support available
- Free parking on site
- Advantages of belonging to a multi-academy Trust (e.g. best practice sharing, Employee Perks Scheme
- Experience working in a SEN / SLD / SEMH environment (desirable)
- NVQ2 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualifications or experience (desirable)
- Ability to motivate and inspire
- Ability to adopt a patient, nurturing and resilient approach
- Ability to work flexibly and to adapt to the changing needs of the pupils
- Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing
- Sufficient command of spoken English as defined under the Code of Practice on English language requirements for public sector workers
For further information and an informal conversation about the roles please contact co-headteachers Heather Hopkins and/or Julie Arkwright, on 020 8304 1320.
Visits to the school are encouraged.
Your Application
To apply for this vacancy please complete the application form, available to download from the Vacancies section, paying particular attention to Section 4 of the form, to indicate how you satisfy the criteria set out in the Person Specification. Once you have completed this, the form should be submitted via email to heather.hopkins@aspire.lseat.org.uk and julie.arkwright@aspire.lseat.org.uk . Alternatively, paper applications should be sent to The Office Manager, Aspire Academy, South Gipsy Road, Welling DA16 1JB
The closing date for your application is as stated above.
References will be requested for those shortlisted only and prior to interview. Only those shortlisted for interview will be contacted.
This post is considered to be a customer-facing position; as such it falls within scope of the Code of Practice on English language requirement for public sector workers. The school therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the person specification. These will be applied during the recruitment/selection and probationary stages.
Aspire Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across the school.
Aspire Academy is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service delivery.
What the school offers its staff
We are a small, specialist primary school in Bexley, providing a nurturing and supportive environment for children aged 5–11 with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. We recognise that every child is unique, which is why we take a holistic approach to their education and wellbeing.
Our dedicated team works closely with families and supporting agencies to help pupils develop confidence and essential life skills. Through high quality teaching and learning, therapeutic interventions and a focus on personal development, we support every child to progress successfully onto the next stage of their education and their lives.
About the Trust
London South East Academies Trust is a growing and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision academies, alongside an outreach service and a music hub. Our schools are located across Bromley, Bexley, Sussex, Lambeth and Surrey, serving a wide range of communities and educational contexts.
Across the Trust, our schools share a strong commitment to raising attainment, encouraging aspiration and supporting social mobility for every pupil, throughout their educational journey and beyond. We take a holistic but personalised approach to education, recognising that children thrive when their individual strengths, needs and circumstances are properly understood and supported. This enables pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential, whatever their starting point.
We believe that great schools are built by great people. As a Trust, we invest in our staff through strong professional development and leadership opportunities, clear expectations and supportive structures. We actively encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, supported by high-quality, cost-effective central services that allow leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for pupils.
London South East Academies Trust sits within the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also includes a multi-campus further and higher education college, London South East Colleges and a charitable foundation, Elevare Education Foundation. This unique structure provides meaningful progression pathways for pupils and families, as well as broad development and career opportunities for staff across the wider Group.
Our teams are united by a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. By continuing to grow our Trust and welcoming new expertise and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our schools further and extend the positive impact we have on our communities.
Equal Opportunities
London South East Academies Trust is fully committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.
As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.
If you have accessibility needs or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know.
Please note that if a suitable applicant is identified, we may close the advert before the published closing date.
If you have any specific queries about the role, please contact us at lseathr@lsec.ac.uk.
As the Trust supports children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to make a full disclosure or to provide sight of a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. The Trust’s DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.
All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and other employment checks.
The school is committed to equality and diversity in employment practice and service delivery.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Aspire Academy
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 5 to 11
- Size
- 75 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Aspire Academy website
- Email address
- isabel.murphy@lsec.ac.uk
Aspire Academy is a SEMH primary school located in Welling. It caters for up to 64 pupils with an EHCP for social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Aspire Academy provides holistic education for our pupils incorporating high quality therapeutic and academic support. We pride ourselves in ensuring our pupils get not only a high quality academic experience but also opportunities to participate in a range of extra curricular opportunities including school trips, school residential, sports matches and tournaments. Trips this year have included: London theatre trip, cinemas, nature reserves and Duxford air museum. We have school sports teams who participate in many matches and tournaments against local schools and a school choir who participate in the Young Voices concert at the O2.
We are therefore seeking an experienced practitioner with a background in primary teaching and supporting children with complex SEN to take up the post of teacher delivering high quality education to our learners. You may be already working in a special school or in a mainstream setting but keen to work in specialist provision. You would be joining a skilled team of teaching and support staff in providing high quality learning for our students. This is an opportunity for an experienced and skilled practitioner to make a real difference to children’s lives. A proven interest in managing challenging behaviour alongside evidence of securing successful academic outcomes are essential requirements. If you have enthusiasm, commitment and a desire to work with some of the most vulnerable and complex young people in our community, we would welcome your application. High aspirations and a relentless approach towards excellence are the key skills we are looking for along with evidence of previous outstanding classroom teaching. A willingness to be involved in developing extra-curricular activities and the wider curriculum would be an advantage.
Arranging a visit to Aspire Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email isabel.murphy@lsec.ac.uk.
School location
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