The Mead Primary School is a proud member of EQUA Mead Learning Trust. Our family of like-minded schools collaborate to provide mutual support, share best practice and learn from each other, whilst retaining and developing each school’s distinctive character.  We believe all children and young people have the right to a great education and we seek to improve the life chances of all those we serve; it is our mission to give Every Child, Every Chance of success.  

Across our Trust, we want our children and young people to be inspired by their learning, and to instil in them a motivation and aspiration to succeed in all they do. Our schools are highly inclusive and we are proud to have high expectations of our children and young people, encouraging and preparing them to do their very best in their learning both within the curriculum and beyond.  

High quality teaching is a priority, coupled with strong nurturing support, where adults genuinely care about the wellbeing of the children and young people in their care. It’s our aim to meet the needs of each child individually and we provide the resources and staff to achieve this. Our dedicated team is committed to providing a wonderfully creative learning environment to fascinate every child.  Aspirations for excellence underpin all that we do; our schools are highly inclusive and we are proud to have high expectations of our children and young people.  

Children and young people in our schools are happy and safe, motivated to reach their full potential and equipped to become resilient, independent learners. They are prepared to live responsibly and peacefully in the spirit of understanding, and opportunities to develop their creativity, confidence and communication skills are woven into all aspects of school life. 

Hours of work:

Position 1: Teaching Assistant 28.5 hours per week and MDSA 2.5 hours per week, plus some additional hours in Wrap Around Care until 6.00pm

Position 2: Teaching Assistant 35 hours per week, plus some additional hours in Wrap Around Care until 6.00pm

Working 39 weeks per year.

We have the opportunity for two Teaching Assistants to join our team at The Mead Primary School in Hilperton, Trowbridge. 

Whether you are an experienced Teaching Assistant looking for a new challenge, or someone early in their career looking for the next step, this post will be rewarding and fulfilling. If you are passionate about giving Every Child Every Chance, and ready to support all of our learners to flourish, we would love to hear from you. 

We pride ourselves on our comprehensive induction process and delivering ongoing professional development to all of our staff. We will give full training to the right person, as we believe strongly that it’s much more about attitude and approach than it is about experience. As a result, we welcome applications from people who are passionate about working with children, no matter what their background is. The role involves but not limited to:  

• Working with groups of individuals within all curricular areas under the direction of the teacher, to develop their physical, intellectual, emotional and social skills 
• Assisting with learning activities to develop children’s knowledge through support and encouragement 
• Preparing activities, ensuring that appropriate materials and equipment are available, and assisting in clearing away afterwards 
• Supporting the preparation and adaptation of teaching aids, games, and worksheets as directed 
• Meeting children’s pastoral needs for praise, comfort, encouragement, reassurance and care 
• Taking responsibility for the welfare and hygiene of children 

Ideally, you will have a Level 2 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning, and be trained in First Aid, or willing to undertake training. 

What we can offer

Inclusion is the beating heart of our organisation, and we cherish it in our staff just like we do in our children. We are committed to creating a workforce that is reflective of our communities and welcome applications from anyone with the skills and experience to do the role they are applying to, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic. We recognise the value and contribution every member of our staff makes to our schools, and in return for their dedication and commitment we provide:

·          An ambitious and vibrant place to work, with enthusiastic staff in all of our schools​

·          A highly organised and very supportive team​

·          The rare opportunity to work and plan collaboratively with experienced colleagues across the Trust​

·          High quality professional development opportunities from Day One​

·          A clear vision with purpose and values that are supported by all our staff ​

·          Generous employer contributions to the Local Authority Pension Scheme

This role will involve contact with children and the post holder will be engaged in regulated activity relevant to children and will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check before appointment is confirmed. We will only submit a DBS application to the relevant disclosure service when a position is accepted. 

This Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow Safer Recruitment procedures and all interviews, regardless of role, will include questions about approaches to safeguarding. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on our website and follows all guidance in the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education.  

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. However, amendments to the Exception Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Please note that by submitting an application, you acknowledge that we reserve the right to view any publicly available information published online (including social media platforms) as part of our shortlisting process, in line with current KCSIE guidelines.