Teaching Assistant

Danecourt School, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6AA

27 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  9 May 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  4 April 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Subject: Special Education Needs (SEN)
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Grade D2 Point 4 + SEN Allowance

Teaching Assistant job summary

Join Our Supportive Team as a Teaching Assistant and Help Shape Young Lives!

Contracted Hours: 28.75 hours per week (8:45 am – 3:15 pm, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks, term-time only)

Are you a passionate, dedicated individual with a heart for supporting children with special educational needs (SEND)? If you thrive in a rewarding, dynamic, and varied, environment, we’d love to hear from you! At Danecourt School, we’re not just about teaching — we’re about making a real difference in the lives of children. We’re seeking enthusiastic and compassionate Teaching Assistants to join our award-winning school and help our pupils reach their full potential.

About the Role:

As a Teaching Assistant at Danecourt, you’ll work closely with our teachers to create a nurturing, supportive, and engaging learning environment for primary-aged children with complex needs, including autism and social, emotional, and mental health challenges. Every day is different, offering a demanding yet deeply rewarding experience where you will:

• Provide tailored support to individuals or small groups of students, helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

• Offer personal care and well-being support to students, ensuring they are fully engaged and able to participate in their learning.

• Collaborating with our team to implement creative and innovative teaching strategies that are as unique as each child.

• Encouraging independence, resilience and a lifelong love of learning in every child.

What We’re Looking For:

Passionate, proactive individuals who are ready to make a positive impact in the lives of our pupils. Our ideal candidate will:

• Ideally be qualified with an NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) in Childcare or SEND practice.

• Have experience supporting pupils with special educational needs, particularly autism (ASD).

• Proficient in numeracy and literacy skills, with qualifications equivalent to GCSE Grade A-C.

• Be Flexible, patient, proactive, and willing to take initiative and work in a fast-paced environment with a supportive team.

• Be committed to inclusive education and passionate about providing every child with the opportunity to succeed.

• Be comfortable providing personal care when needed
• Have a strong desire to learn and grow within the role

Flexibility is key, as you may be required to work across any of our three locations: Danecourt School, Featherby Primary (Gillingham), and Bligh Primary (Strood).

Why Join Us?

At Danecourt, no two days are ever the same, but the rewards are truly worth it. You’ll experience the unique joy of seeing children overcome challenges and achieve what they never thought possible. Here’s why our team loves working with us:

• Term-Time Only Role: Enjoy a fantastic work-life balance with holidays aligned to the school term schedule.
• Award-Winning School: Danecourt School is proud to be the Winner of the Primary Special School Provision category at the Medway Parents and Carers Forum SEND Awards. Our commitment to excellence in SEND education is recognized and celebrated, and we’re always striving to do more
• Growth Opportunities: At Danecourt, we are incredibly passionate about growing our own talent. Whether you want to become an HLTA, teacher, or take on another role, we offer continuous professional development (CPD) and opportunities for career progression.
• A Fun and Supportive Team: We know that teamwork makes the dream work. From fundraising events like the school’s Sahara trek to fun activities with the students (including horse riding), the Danecourt team is one of collaboration, laughter, and shared purpose.

• Make a Difference: As part of our “Imagine the Impossible” campaign, we’re creating an immersive classroom — a multi-sensory environment designed to expand the horizons of our pupils and help them experience the world in a way that’s both engaging and calming. As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a key role in creating an educational experience that truly transforms lives.

• A Collaborative, Caring Community: Our staff and pupils work together to create a welcoming, inclusive, and empowering environment. Everyone at Danecourt — from pupils to staff — is valued and supported.

• Community Impact: Our school’s immersive classroom will not only benefit our pupils but will be available to other schools, care homes, charities, and community groups in the Medway area, allowing you to be part of something that makes a real difference in the local community.

Why You Should Apply:

Being a Teaching Assistant at Danecourt means you’re not just filling a role; you’re becoming part of something bigger. While the job can be demanding, the passion, support, and rewards make it one of the most fulfilling careers you can pursue. The bonds you’ll form with the children, the growth you’ll experience, and the difference you’ll make will inspire you every single day.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re ready to embark on a career where every day is rewarding and impactful, we’d love to meet you! Visits to the school are warmly welcomed — contact our office to arrange a tour and see the wonderful work we're doing and the inspiring environment we've created.

Please note that we may hold interviews on a rolling basis as applications are received and reserve the right to offer the position before the closing date. Submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this fantastic opportunity.

For further details, including a full job description, please refer to the attached candidate application pack. Applications must be submitted online via the My New Term website.

Maritime Academy Trust embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

The Trust and its academies are committed to recruiting with care and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The post is subject to a successful Enhanced DBS check and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before an appointment is confirmed.

In line with KCSIE 2023 guidance, as part of the shortlisting process, the Trust reserves the right to conduct an online search on shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence and to share any pertinent information found concerning a candidate's suitability to work with children with Hiring Managers to be discussed at interview stage

Commitment to safeguarding

Maritime Academy Trust is committed to recruiting with care and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs are not accepted.

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.

About Danecourt School

• School type: Academy, ages 4 to 11
• School size: 254 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Danecourt School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/danecourt-school

Danecourt is a special school catering for primary aged children who have special educational needs. The school caters for children with a wide breadth of need including complex learning difficulties, autism and social emotional mental health needs.

At Danecourt our mission is to provide all pupils with a “stimulating learning environment that allows children to explore through a personalised curriculum to become STARS!

Self reliant Team Player Aspirational Resilient Successful

The highly trained staff teams maintain high expectations of what each individual pupil is able to achieve, striving to ensure that they all achieve their maximum potential; celebrating difference and encouraging curiosity and creativity. Staff work collaboratively with families and a range of other agencies in order to meet the pupils needs and as a result, they make strong progress academically, emotionally and socially. Pupil achievement is hugely valued and celebrated in a manner that is meaningful and appropriate for each pupil.

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