Teaching Assistant in Peterborough

Teaching with real purpose. Progress that matters. Most classroom support roles mean helping pupils keep pace. This one means helping pupils who need something different find their own sense of achievement — working independently and alongside teachers to plan, deliver and adapt an innovative curriculum for every child. As a Teaching Assistant at The Beeches Independent School, you will be a trusted, visible presence in the classroom, promoting pupils' independence, self-esteem and social inclusion every day. If you enjoy building genuine relationships with children, thrive on variety, and want your work to make a real difference to how a child experiences school — we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching & Learning
  • Prepare lessons with teachers, evaluating and adjusting delivery in response to pupils' needs
  • Provide short-term cover in response to teacher absence
  • Give written and verbal feedback on lesson content, pupil response, and pupil behaviour, in line with school policy
  • Motivate and progress pupils' learning, following school policies and teacher guidance
• Planning & Assessment
  • Contribute to effective assessment and planning, supporting the monitoring, recording and reporting of pupil progress
  • Read and understand lesson plans shared prior to lessons
  • Prepare the classroom ahead of lessons
• Whole‑School Contribution
  • Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of school policies, practices and procedures
  • Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
  • Contribute to the development of other support staff
• Health, Safety & Safeguarding
  • Promote the safety and wellbeing of pupils, following Keeping Children Safe in Education and the school's child protection policy
  • Look after children who are upset or have had accidents
  • Provide keyworking responsibilities for a named child, including daily contact, monitoring home‑school contact and a weekly report
• Professional Development & Conduct
  • Keep knowledge and practice up to date through reflection, liaison with school leaders, and relevant CPD
  • Complete required training and direct your own professional development
  • Take part in the school's appraisal procedures
  • Uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics, attendance and punctuality

What We're Looking For

• GCSEs at grades A*–C in English and maths
• The ability to build effective working relationships with pupils and adults
• Skills and expertise in understanding the needs of all pupils, and knowledge of how to adapt support accordingly
• The ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• Knowledge of safeguarding guidance and requirements
• Good ICT skills, particularly using ICT to support learning
• A genuine enjoyment of working with children, and sensitivity in building good relationships with pupils
• A commitment to getting the best outcomes for all pupils, and to confidentiality and safeguarding at all times
• A flexible, 'can do' attitude, adaptable to the needs of our learners

Working in a School Environment

This role operates within a school setting. You will be required to:

• Hold an Enhanced DBS check
• Maintain high standards of confidentiality at all times
• Follow the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education and the school's child protection policy
• Demonstrate positive attitudes, values and behaviours, and respect for individual differences and cultural diversity

What We Offer

• Build Your Career
  • Fully funded qualifications and clear pathways to progression
  • Ongoing learning and development through structured programmes and hands‑on experience
  • Opportunities to step up, take on responsibility, and grow within the organisation
  • 24/7 access to confidential support through our Employee Assistance Programme
  • OnDemand GP access
  • A strong team culture where people support each other day-to-day
• Work That Works for You
  • Generous holiday allowance, increasing with service
  • Wellbeing days to support staff when needed
• Be Part of Something Bigger
  • Opportunities to get involved in our international projects, including trips to Tanzania supporting local communities
  • A values‑led organisation focused on making a genuine difference — not just commercially, but socially

The Essentials

• Pension with NEST
• Access to discounts via Sage Employee Benefits and Blue Light Card
• On‑site parking (where available)

About The Beeches Independent School

The Beeches Independent School is part of Silver Birch Care Holdings Limited, a leading provider of high-quality education, supported accommodation, residential care, and specialist support for children and young people aged 5 to 25 across the UK. We are a family owned provider, driven by our commitment to care. This makes us different from other organisations in the sector. Because we are not owned by venture capital investors or corporate shareholders, we reinvest any surplus funds into our services and support charities around the world. Through our family of services — including Silver Birch Care, Silver Birch Care (Residential Services), The Beeches, Benecare, and Clover Childcare Services, alongside our two independent specialist schools — we operate more than 60 children's homes and supported living services across London, Peterborough, Northampton, Kent, and Norfolk. Working in partnership with over 60 local authorities, we support children and young people to overcome challenges, celebrate their achievements, and build the skills they need to live safe, happy, and fulfilling lives. Our experienced and dedicated teams nurture every individual, ensuring they feel safe, supported, and valued.

Safeguarding

The Beeches Independent School is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of children and young people. Appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of safer recruitment employment checks in line with statutory guidance and Keeping Children Safe in Education. This will include satisfactory references, enhanced DBS from the Disclosures and Barring Service and, where applicable, any international equivalent being obtained.