SEND Teaching Assistant in Halstead

We are looking to recruit experienced teaching assistants to join our delightful village school. We are seeking applicants with experience of supporting pupils with SEND (ideally with ASD). This role is in our SEND Unit for children with SEND, working alongside qualified teachers and a group of experienced teaching assistants.

This is a term-time role, working 39 weeks per year, with working hours from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Our SEND unit - Maple Class - has a large dedicated space, inside and outside, with a range of high-quality sensory resources. Staff work alongside the staff in the wider school, supporting one another and our pupils.

We work closely with another small rural school in the Trust that also has a SEND unit, allowing us to share resources, planning, and plan shared events together, such as a summer fun sports event with a colour run!

Halstead Community Primary School is a thriving village school set in the heart of the local community. We are Ofsted graded Good with Outstanding features. Our ethos is one of high-quality learning opportunities within a warm and caring environment. We have high expectations for all our children at Halstead Community Primary School. We want them to be happy and successful, and we are committed to giving every individual child a chance to develop their talents, whatever they may be.

This was recognised in our recent Ofsted inspection which stated: At this school everyone is made to feel welcome. Staff and pupils are caring, respectful, and accepting of others. Pupils, including children in the early years, work and play alongside one another positively, regardless of differences or needs. Hence our motto 'Everybody different, everybody equal.'

Halstead Community Primary School is part of The Pioneer Academy Trust, which is an academy trust with schools across London and the South East. At The Pioneer Academy, we put children first, pioneering excellence and championing each and every child. All our schools, ranging from small infant schools to large primary schools, work collaboratively, sharing resources and expertise.

In partnership with Kent Local Authority, Halstead Community Primary School has opened a SEND unit for children with Autistic Spectrum Condition. This was initially for Reception and Year 1 aged pupils, and we are now extending this to other year groups. Kent special schools and enhanced learning provisions offer appropriate placements for children and young people with the most significant needs, who require a curriculum wrapped around them so that they can engage in learning.

The SEND unit curriculum is topic-based and is a blend of EYFS/KS1 learning, social communication skills, listening, speaking, and attention. There is also a focus on sensory needs, behaviour, and play. The children all have individual packages of support according to their own particular needs.

At The Pioneer Academy, we take the wellbeing and mental health of our staff seriously, which is why we are committed to regular reviews of staff well-being and reducing staff workload. We create bespoke career pathways for every member of staff, identifying and growing talent, with outstanding professional development opportunities at every stage of your career.

We also have an Employee Assistance Programme with a range of resources to support wellbeing, available to all employees and their immediate family members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

What we offer you:

• A friendly, dedicated staff team who believe in teamwork and building positive relationships across the school, the Trust, and in the local community.
• A supportive and collaborative working ethos, including support from the Trust’s Central Executive Team and a range of experts, such as specialists in EYFS, SEND, and Phonics.
• A Trust-wide curriculum with shared planning and resources, including adaptive teaching tools, to significantly reduce workload for teachers and subject leaders.
• High-quality development programme with induction programmes for all new staff.
• Excellent CPD opportunities, including TA training, SEND training, and access to teacher training apprenticeships for those interested in becoming a qualified teacher.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme including free counselling, integrated GP and nurse services, and access to a range of other wellbeing services such as private physiotherapy, mindfulness and yoga sessions, bereavement support, menopause support, and men's health support.
• Access to discounted wrap-around childcare for staff.
• Free academy-wide social events throughout the year.

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a criminal disclosures and declarations form prior to interview. References will be requested for those shortlisted only and prior to interview. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches will be completed as part of the due diligence on shortlisted candidates, searching online content that is publicly available for inappropriate online content that may suggest that a shortlisted candidate may not be suitable to work with children, or that may harm the reputation of the school. If any issues of concern come up in online searches, shortlisted candidates will have an opportunity to address these at interview.

An Enhanced DBS certificate will be required on provisional offer, including a check of the Children's Barred List. Further vetting checks, in line with the requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, will be completed following a provisional offer of appointment. Where applicable, if an applicant with a provisional offer of employment has lived and/or worked outside the UK, they will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct or other overseas police check. Candidates will be required to arrange this themselves if they do not already have the necessary certificate.

We recommend that those applicants who have lived and worked abroad read the Gov.uk information ahead of interview to familiarise themselves with the vetting checks that will be required: Criminal Records Checks for applicants who have lived overseas - further information.

The Pioneer Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of employment are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and other employment checks. Our Academy Safeguarding Policy is attached for your reference.