Teaching Assistant

Penny Field School, Leeds, LS6 4QD

22 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  1 December 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  9 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £26,016.00 - £26,847.00 Annually (FTE) Actual Salary £19,630 - £20,257 for term time + 5 days

Teaching Assistant job summary

Are you passionate about making a tangible difference in children's lives? Penny Field School is a special school for children and young people aged 2-19 with severe and complex needs. It is a unique setting with incredible young people who deserve the absolute best in care and education that we can provide. We strive to deliver the best curriculum, with the most appropriate resources and equipment in order to support the young people’s journey into adulthood.

We are looking to appoint two dedicated Teaching Assistants to join our team and support a pupil with complex needs who requires a ventilator (working as a pair within a class team). Full training and support will be provided by health professionals.

Please note that if at any point the child is unable to attend school, or leaves the school, you will be expected to work as a Teaching Assistant within the class or wider school, supporting a range of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

In this role, you will work under the direct instruction of teaching and senior staff, primarily within the classroom, to support pupils' access to learning and assist in the general management of the classroom and resources.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your knowledge, skills, and understanding of effective support within a SEND settingMain Duties will include:

Specialist Support & Ventilator Care:

• Direct Ventilator Support: Complete child-specific training for the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of the ventilator to ensure the delivery of safe, continuous ventilation throughout the school day.

• Medical & Feeding Needs: Complete child-specific practical training to support the pupil's individualised medical routines and feeding requirements.

• Intimate & Personal Care: Provide sensitive, dignified intimate and personal care, including toileting, continence support, hygiene routines, and dressing, adhering strictly to school policies and moving and handling protocols.

• Health Monitoring & Interventions: Continuously monitor the pupil’s health and respiratory status, proactively delivering interventions when required.

• Nursing & Learning Access: Work closely with the nursing team to manage daily clinical care, ensuring the pupil is safely able to access learning and participate in class-based activities, where appropriate.

• Reporting & Documentation: Accurately complete required medical, care, and daily records, promptly reporting any concerns to the relevant staff.

Communication & Multi-Agency Liaison:

• Liaise and communicate effectively with the class teacher, healthcare professionals, nursing teams, and parents/carers.

Classroom & Curriculum Support:

• Support the teacher with preparing learning resources and adapting classroom activities to meet the pupil's specific needs.

• Support the pupil's engagement and access to the curriculum.

Support for the School:

• Comply with school policies regarding child protection, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection.

• Contribute positively to the overall ethos, values, and inclusive culture of Penny Field School.

Experience and Skills required:

• Experience working with children of a relevant age, preferably within a SEND or healthcare setting.

• Willingness and ability to complete child-specific practical training, including ventilator maintenance and specialised feeding/medical care.

• Ability to relate well to both children and adults, with strong communication skills.

• Ability to use correct English in both spoken and written communication.

• Ability to respond calmly under pressure, maintain vigilant monitoring, and use your own initiative.

If you work with us at Penny Field school, you will be part of a committed and hardworking team that is dedicated to making a difference to the lives of the children and young people with which we work.For a discussion about the post please contact hannah.duffey@pennyfield.org.uk To apply please click apply and complete our online application form

Wellspring Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils. All posts are offered subject to enhanced DBS checks. References will be requested and an online search carried out for shortlisted candidates, prior to attendance at interview.

Further pre-employment checks, including prohibition from teaching, childcare disqualification and section 128 checks, if deemed relevant for the role, will be completed for the successful candidate upon acceptance of the post.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to promoting diversity. We want our people to reflect the diversity of our communities, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, especially from under-represented groups, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

If you are currently living overseas or have lived / worked overseas in the last five years please be aware that you will be required to provide an overseas criminal records check from the country/ countries you have resided in, if you are the preferred candidate for the post.

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

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.

About Penny Field School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 2 to 19
• Size: 71 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Penny Field School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/penny-field-school-leeds

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