Teaching Assistant - EYFS

Lower Meadow Primary School, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S8 8EE

5 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  25 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  14 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £26,847.00 - £27,710.00 Annually (FTE) SCP 6-8 £21,288 - £21,972

Teaching Assistant - EYFS job summary

EYFS Teaching Assistant

Lower Meadow Primary Academy
34 hours per week | Term Time Only | Permanent

Help Shape the Earliest Stages of Learning

At Lower Meadow Primary Academy, we believe every child deserves an exceptional start to their education. We are proud to be a caring, inclusive school where children are encouraged to develop confidence, resilience, curiosity, and a love of learning from the very beginning of their journey.

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic EYFS Teaching Assistant to join our Early Years team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting young children as they learn, explore, and grow through high-quality early years experiences.

Working alongside teachers and colleagues, you will help create a stimulating and nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to achieve their very best.

About the Role

As an EYFS Teaching Assistant, you will support children across all areas of learning and development, helping them build the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive. You will contribute to engaging learning experiences, support children's wellbeing, and play an important role in helping them make positive progress during these crucial early years.

Key Responsibilities

• Support children in their learning through creative, engaging, and developmentally appropriate activities.
• Assist with the delivery of a broad range of Early Years experiences that promote communication, language, literacy, numeracy, and personal development.
• Work with individual pupils and small groups to provide targeted support and encouragement.
• Help foster children's confidence, independence, social skills, and emotional wellbeing.
• Observe and contribute to the assessment of children's progress and achievements.
• Support the preparation and organisation of learning resources and classroom environments.
• Encourage learning through exploration, investigation, and purposeful play.
• Help maintain safe, stimulating indoor and outdoor learning spaces.
• Build positive relationships with parents, carers, colleagues, and external professionals.
• Promote safeguarding, inclusion, positive behaviour, and equal opportunities for all children.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• GCSE English and Mathematics at Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent).
• A recognised Level 3 Early Years qualification, such as:
  • CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce
  • NVQ Level 3 in Childcare and Education
  • BTEC National Diploma in Children's Care, Learning and Development
  • Or another full and relevant Level 3 Early Years qualification recognised for EYFS settings.
  • Paediatric First Aid qualification.
  • Experience of working with young children within an Early Years setting.
  • A sound understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
  • Knowledge of child development and effective early years practice.
  • An understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
  What We Are Looking For

  We would love to hear from candidates who:

  • Have a genuine passion for Early Years education.
  • Understand the importance of giving children a positive and successful start to school life.
  • Are caring, patient, and nurturing in their approach.
  • Have excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Can work effectively as part of a collaborative team.
  • Are proactive, adaptable, and willing to use their initiative.
  • Have high expectations for all children regardless of background or ability.
  • Are committed to inclusion and helping every child succeed.
  • Demonstrate professionalism, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude every day.
  Why Join Us?

  This is a rewarding opportunity to work within a supportive school community where staff are valued and children are at the centre of everything we do. You will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact during the most formative years of a child's education while developing your own skills and experience as part of a committed team.

  If you are passionate about helping young children flourish and want to play a key role in shaping their educational journey, we would be delighted to hear from you.

  Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

  Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check. We value diversity and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure all candidates can fully demonstrate their abilities.

  In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public.

  Flexible Interview Dates:

  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and the academy reserves the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window.

  Ready to Make a Difference?

  If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!

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

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks including references and enhanced DBS checks. 

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 Lower Meadow Primary School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 281 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Lower Meadow Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/lower-meadow-primary-school

Lower Meadow Primary Academy is a 3-11 Academy; we sit in South Sheffield on the border with Derbyshire and chose to join Astrea Academy Trust in July 2016. We have a strong team that drive school improvement and strive for the best outcomes for all children.

The Academy is seeking to attract a talented, knowledgeable, and committed team member who can demonstrate high aspirations for all our children along with the enthusiasm and resilience to support all aspects of a child’s education. The successful candidate will have the
opportunity to work in a supportive, professional learning community that seeks excellence and play a key part in the next step of our journey towards Outstanding.

Lower Meadow Primary Academy has been on a journey of improvement over the last six years and we were pleased to be recognised as a “Good” school by Ofsted in 2019. Our emphasis is on consistently high quality teaching and learning throughout school and across all areas of the
curriculum to raise children’s outcomes and allow them to move onto secondary school fully prepared. We believe strongly in building our children’s aspirations and helping them to become good learners so they can build on their successes each year and achieve their full potential. We use the Astrea Values to help build children’s life skills and prepare them fully for secondary school. Our children behave well and enjoy coming to school. All staff are committed to providing the very best for all children. Teamwork is a strong part of our ethos, with a supportive and nurturing staff and a culture of continual improvement in all that we do.

Those we recruit can demonstrate that they share our values, have the child at the centre of everything they do, are highly motivated to work with colleagues to continuously develop their skills, pursue professional excellence and are committed to providing the highest standards consistently. If you feel that you can support our ethos, we would be delighted to receive your application.

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