Teaching Assistant - EYFS

Competitive salary with progression opportunities + Local Government Pension Scheme + 24/7 access to a free virtual GP Service + collaborative MAT network + additional LAT benefits.

Candidates must hold a full and relevant Level 3 qualification in order to comply with staff: child EYFS ratios. You can check your qualification(s) by visiting the .gov website. Shortlisted candidates will be required to bring evidence of their qualification(s) to their interview.

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard has a fantastic opportunity to appoint a Teaching Assistant to join and support our classes in our highly successful academy that opened in 2017. This role is based with our Preschool.

What does the role involve? The main aim of this role is to support our teachers to deliver academic excellence, day in, day out, with professionalism and enthusiasm.

Each and every member of staff, regardless of their position or seniority, is expected to participate in the overall running of the school and to act as a positive role model for our students. In and out of the classroom you will encourage and promote positive behaviour and effectively manage any situation that threatens to impact on the progress of other students.

We are looking for someone who demonstrates the following:

• Have high expectations of teaching and learning.
• A commitment to being a positive role model and contributing to the school's positive ethos.
• The ability to work collaboratively with both children and colleagues.
• A keen desire to develop professionally.
• Recent experience working with SEN students in an educational setting.
• Independence, resilience, and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

This role is a fixed-term role until July 2027. The actual salary is £19,655 per annum (£26,016 full-time equivalent), term time + 1 week inset. This is working 8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Working with us at Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard opened in September 2017, it has since grown to full capacity with children up to Year 6 as of September 2021. The academy is located in Ebbsfleet Garden City and features new facilities, including a nursery and a center for children with speech, communication, and language needs.

The academy's core mission is to inspire children, deliver an inclusive education, create a safe and happy environment, and ensure all students feel valued. It focuses on challenging learning experiences to build resilient students and maintains a consistent approach to behavior, safeguarding, and pastoral support.

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard received an 'Outstanding' rating from Ofsted in its November 2021 inspection, achieving the highest mark in all five areas: Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Early Years Provision.

Please click here to view our website and find out more!

Applying for this Opportunity

Thank you for your interest in joining us. If you’d like to find out more about this role or arrange a visit to the academy, please don’t hesitate to contact Charlotte Herberts (Recruitment Advisor): [email protected] / 01634 412 245.

To support your application, we recommend viewing the Job Pack by clicking here, which outlines the full role responsibilities and person specification. This will guide you in preparing a strong application and understanding what we’re looking for.

Early applications are encouraged, as we reserve the right to interview before the closing date. All applications must be submitted through our online application form prior to the deadline.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity

Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role involves regulated activity relevant to children, and it is a criminal offence for anyone barred from engaging in regulated activity with children to apply for this position.

We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates, and you can read more about our approach on our Careers site. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references and, where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role, regardless of any protected characteristics, which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices, and not discriminating on any grounds.