We are looking to appoint a committed and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join and support our team at Snowfields Academy. This role is ideal for those who genuinely have a passion for helping children, particularly with learning difficulties, and also a fantastic opportunity for those considering a career in teaching to gain valuable first-hand experience. Candidates who are appointed will receive full support and training from colleagues and teachers. Join a brand new school and become a part of our exciting journey, starting from November 2020.


This is a permanent position based on 31.63 hours per week, Term Time + 1 weeks of inset (Monday to Friday, 9.15am - 4pm with 4.45pm finish every other Wednesday). This position offers an actual salary of £13,328 per annum (£18,476 FTE).



Please note: Interviews may be conducted on a rolling basis, therefore, early applications are encouraged.



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. This will involve providing a comprehensive support service to the academy including:

Assisting students with their educational and social development, on an individual and group basis
Providing support for individual students inside and outside the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities
Assisting teachers with the maintenance of student records
Building and maintaining successful relationships with students, whilst treating them with respect and consideration
Provide expertise to deliver a personalised curriculum for each pupil’s learning
Work together with families and other agencies to ensure every pupil is valued, challenged and supported
Have the highest expectation that every pupil will make sustained academic and personal progress
Ensure that every pupil is ready for the next steps in their learning and is supported to participate in, and contribute to, life in modern Britain
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.


What are we looking for in you? Applicants will have previous experience of working with young people, either in an academic setting or as a voluntary worker. You will be educated to GCSE level (or equivalent) in literacy and numeracy. You will be committed to personal learning and development, and have a sincere commitment to sharing our long-term aims and drive for continuous improvement. In return, we will offer you a professional and supportive team, a state of the art working environment and a genuine opportunity to develop. As a Trust we feel it is important to hire for the right attitude which is why we look for support assistants that are enthusiastic, focused and resilient to the day to day pressures that the classroom brings.


Working with us at Snowfields Academy: Snowfields Academy is a new secondary provision for students with ASD. We will offer 140 places across year groups 7-13 for young people who are working at or close to age related expectations. Class sizes will be small with 12 in each class, supported by 2-3 teaching assistants according to need. We will offer a range of GCSEs and other qualifications for young people on a blend of academic and vocational pathways.


The academy will benefit from being a brand new school with a design tailored to the students it provides for, carefully considered to make the most of both its inside and outside environments in order to enhance the learning of its students. The environment will support specialisms in horticulture and catering with a purpose designed teaching kitchen, servery and cafe, and internal and external horticulture facilities supporting our students into employment. We will work closely with local businesses to offer an outstanding range of work experience opportunities and supported internships.


At Snowfields Academy we will:

Inspire and engage our children so they develop a lifelong love of learning, working towards the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Key Stage 3
Deliver a quality, inclusive education so all children are able to achieve to their full potential
Create a learning environment where barriers to learning are overcome and students feel safe and happy and are ready to learn
Ensure that all children feel valued and celebrate their individuality and success at every opportunity
Always work within a multi-disciplinary framework alongside families and other professionals
Use personalised approaches to manage behaviour and reduce anxieties
Ensure safeguarding, pastoral support and embedding British Values are at the heart of all we do
Create a culture where staff work collaboratively as part of the wider team, sharing ideas and good practice and offering support to each other.


Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2020, our Trust will comprise 28 geographically organised academies (11 secondaries, 15 primaries and 2 special) educating over 16,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. We also have one further secondary academy in the development phase, due to open in September 2021. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training providers and a large teaching school. Click here to view our future plans in our Vision 2025 document.
As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Diversity at our core: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise.
The academy is committed to safeguarding children and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the Trust.


Recruitment and hiring during COVID-19: Despite the challenges we face, recruitment and hiring will continue for all Leigh Academies Trust vacancies with as little disruption as possible over the coming weeks and months. This is for all senior, teaching and support staff appointments. Applications will still be reviewed and interviews conducted in a timely manner, although interview activities will vary. If you have any queries or concerns, please get in touch with the LAT Talent Team - talent@latrust.org.uk.
Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.