Teaching Assistant (Maternity Cover) in Southampton

Temporary, Part Time

Portswood Primary School is a two-form entry school and nursery. It is a great school where children are at the centre of everything that we do. We believe that all members of the school community should aim high and dream big. We are passionate about developing life learners who are excited and engaged by school and want to become independent learners. We have been designated, by the DfE, with two Teaching School Hubs covering Portsmouth, Southampton, the Isle of Wight and parts of Hampshire. The core purpose behind the Teaching School Hubs is to become centres of excellence for teaching and leadership training and development.

About the role:

We would like to appoint a dedicated and patient Teaching Assistant to join our hard-working team to work with children, supporting in class and with interventions. With a keen interest in nurturing independent learners, the successful candidate will enable our children to access all elements of the curriculum, through the delivery of high-quality interventions under the direction of a class teacher and through actively engaging students in their learning so that they achieve positive outcomes. Experience or an interest in working with children with SEND would be an advantage. This position would potentially suit candidates with experience as a Teaching Assistant, or a person who is looking to gain experience working in a school prior to pursuing a teaching career. The ability to establish high expectations of work and behaviour is vital, as is the ability to provide objective and accurate feedback to the Class Teacher.

We are seeking a professional individual who is:

• reliable and enthusiastic
• creative, committed and passionate
• dedicated to making a real difference to the lives of children
• able to work both as part of a team and independently with a flexible and proactive approach

About HISP Trust:

HISP Multi Academy Trust believes in building excellent educational environments that inspire and unlock potential in all our school communities. As a Trust, we are ambitious and have a broad range of outward facing accreditations that support our schools and those within our local area. We are part of the Education Endowment Foundation Network with our HISP Research School. Evidence informed practice underpins our ethos, professional development and school improvement.

Application process:

To apply, please review our full job description and person specification, then complete our application form which can be found below. Completed application forms can be emailed to info@portswoodpri.org.uk or submitted by post to The Headteacher, Portswood Primary School, Somerset Road, Southampton SO17 3AA. Please note that CVs will not be accepted. No agency applications either please.

Interview date: Thursday 27 November 2025

Start date: 5 January 2026

*please note, this role is to cover maternity leave and we anticipate it to end in December 2026.

The HISP Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. We are also committed to providing equality of opportunity at all stages of the recruitment and selection process and ensuring that candidates are treated fairly and lawfully throughout the process.

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible and inclusive. If you require any adjustments, whether for neurodivergence, disability, or other access needs, please let us know. We will do our best to ensure a supportive and equitable experience.