Teaching Assistant Level 3 in Salford

The Big Life Group’s mission is to fight for equity, in health, in wealth and in life. We are a social business delivering a range of services across the North of England, covering everything from mental and physical health, addiction and criminal justice, to housing, education, family support and much more. What links them together is the way we work – The Big Life Way. We always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people, working with them on the things that matter most to them. Everything we do is designed and informed by the needs, priorities and strengths of people and communities.

Our values

• Courage: We stand up for ourselves, and the people and communities we work alongside, even when that makes us unpopular, or challenges accepted wisdom.
• Creativity: We find innovative solutions that work, never accepting the easy option or the status quo.
• Honesty: We act with integrity, speaking the truth to ourselves and others.
• Inspiration: We are inspired by the people and communities we work with and share what we learn from them to inspire others.
• Thoughtful: We act with care and compassion and work to understand people’s experiences. We take time to listen, reflect and continually learn.
• Valuing difference: We recognise and celebrate the unique qualities, gifts, insights and perspectives that different people offer.

Big Life Schools is a Multi-Academy Trust which functions as part of the wider Big Life Group, and we share those group-led values within our school communities. At Big Life Schools, work is more than a job – it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people and communities, making a difference every day. We fight for equity in health, in wealth and in life, and that commitment starts with our staff.

Be yourself

We want you to feel safe, respected and able to bring your whole self to work. Difference is celebrated here, and our staff networks - from menopause to neurodiversity, LGBTQI+ and more - create space to connect and support each other.

Benefits that matter

We offer more than a payslip – you’ll find wellbeing support through LifeWorks, Simply Health and mindfulness sessions, your birthday off, and regular learning opportunities. Everyday perks include Blue Light Card discounts, savings schemes, cycle-to-work, free eye tests and more - little extras to make life easier inside and outside of work.

Recognised as outstanding

We’re proud to be ranked by Best Companies as one of the UK’s outstanding places to work, with a two-star accreditation in 2024.

Support and progression

We work with all our teaching and support staff to explore ways of reducing workload and improving wellbeing. When joining our schools, you can expect a range of support from senior leaders, who operate a coaching model, and from the dedicated curriculum and wellbeing leads.

If you’re looking for more than a job - if you want to be part of a team that’s bold, creative and relentlessly committed to equity – then Big Life could be the place for you.

Unity Community Primary is a two-form entry primary school serving a richly diverse community in Cheetham, North Manchester. Unity is part of the multi-academy trust Big Life Schools, which shares the vision and values of the Big Life group. We have nearly 400 pupils aged 2-11, coming from many different countries and speaking 38 different languages. Our pupils are happy children who love school, and we want to encourage them to have the best possible start in life. We work hard to be a truly inclusive community. Diversity, respect and tolerance are at the core of our school identity, and we are proud to have the Rights Respecting Gold Award and the Belonging Matters Charter Mark.

As a school we use trauma-informed approaches to support our children’s emotional health and wellbeing. We also put a great emphasis on developing positive relationships between every member of our school community. Candidates are highly encouraged to visit the school and discuss the position with a member of our Senior Leadership. Please ring the school office on 0161 871 2614 or visit www.unitycommunityprimary.com for more information about our school.

The Big Life Schools is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS with a check of adults barred list and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Job Description: Teaching Assistant Level 3

The basics

• Grade 4 NJC point 7-11 pro rata
• Hours 35 hours per week 8.15-3.45pm term-time only on a permanent basis, starting in September 2026
• Annual leave
• Base Unity Community Primary School
• Line manager Assistant Headteacher
• Closing date for applications Thursday, 11 June at 9am.
• Interviews will take place on Tuesday, 16 June.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide learning activities for individuals and groups of pupils under the professional direction and supervision of a qualified teacher, differentiating and adapting learning programmes to suit the needs of allocated pupils.
• Assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment as agreed with the teacher.
• Monitor and record pupil responses and learning achievements, drawing any problems which cannot be resolved to the attention of the teacher.
• Plan and evaluate specialist learning activities with the teacher, writing reports and records as required.
• Select and adapt appropriate resources/methods to facilitate agreed learning activities.
• Support pupils in social and emotional well-being, reporting problems to the teacher as appropriate.

Teaching assistants in this role are expected to undertake at least one of the following. The options listed below are alternative specialisms and only the specialism actually applicable should be evaluated.

• Provide specialist support to pupils with special educational needs, for example, learning, behavioural, communication, social, sensory or physical difficulties.
• Provide specialist support to pupils where English is not their first language.
• Provide specialist support to gifted and talented pupils.
• Provide specialist support to all pupils in a particular learning area (e.g. ICT, literacy, numeracy, National Curriculum subject).

Please use the pack to align yourself to each point on the person spec.

Apply now

About Us

Unity Community Primary School is a two-form entry school in Cheetham, just North of Manchester city centre. Unity is a nurturing, inclusive and welcoming school which makes it a great place to work and learn. Unity has a strong and supportive staff team and we work in a new building in large grounds. The school is in the Cheetham and Crumpsall ward of Manchester, serving a widely diverse and socially deprived community. Over 30 different languages are spoken in school and we have children from all over the world with 96% of children being from minority communities and 86% having English as an additional language. Unity is a UNICEF Gold level, Rights Respecting School and our curriculum reflects this as we develop successful, responsible citizens for the future. Unity is part of the Big Life group and we share the groups values, so community, wellbeing and supporting families is central to all that what we do.

Big Life is in the business of changing lives, creating opportunities for people who have the least. When you become part of Big Life - as a staff or volunteer - we want you to feel great about your time with us. It's important to us that staff feel great while they work here. That partly comes from a supportive, flexible approach to managing and nurturing our staff, but also from a wide range of perks, schemes and support, which help make being part of Big Life a bit brighter:

• Wellbeing passports: Everyone has things going on in their life that affect their ability to be happy at work, and Big Life's wellbeing passports help staff members to work with their manager to understand their situation, what changes at work might make a difference, and the support we can offer.
• Health and wellbeing champions: Our health and wellbeing champions group is drawn from across the group and meets regularly to look at how we can best support our staff.
• Peer supporters: Staff peer supporters can help staff within the group who may be experiencing stress, anxiety, grief, or any other emotional difficulties most of us face at some point in time. Peer supporters usually have some of their own life experience to draw on, and are trained to offer support.
• Employee Assistance Programme: All staff have access to help from LifeWorks, which offers support with emotional, mental, financial, or physical wellbeing. The service is confidential, 24/7, and free to Big Life staff.
• Cycle to work: Anyone looking to get fit on their way to work can access Cycle Solutions and get a bike for their commute tax free! Through the scheme, Big Life staff can save an average of 32% on the cost of their bike.

Your Development

Coming to Big Life to work or volunteer can be just the start of your journey. We really believe that if people have the values, the determination and the skills to progress, then we'll do everything we can to make that happen. In fact, we've got a whole range of stories about people about whom that was the case: http://www.thebiglifegroup.com/category/staff-and-volunteer-progression

We want to be a great employer and to look after our volunteers, so we've received formal accreditations that show our commitment:

• Investors in People (Gold Award)
• Investors in People (Health and Wellbeing)
• Mindful Employer
• Disability Confident Grade 4 (NJC point 7-11 £26,403-£28,142) pro rata to term-time only

Hours 35 hours per week 8.15-3.45pm term-time only on a permanent basis, starting in September 2026.