Teaching Assistant in Cambridge

Start date: ASAP

Salary: NJC Level 1 Point 3 (£24,796 FTE)

Hours: Teaching Assistant 32.5 hours per week, 38 weeks per year

Times: 8.30am - 3.30pm Monday - Friday

The contract will be a one-year Fixed Term contract until 31st August 2027.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a child centred approach, experience of working with children with social, emotional and mental health needs would be beneficial.
• Is organised, creative and energetic.
• Relishes the challenge of working with pupils with special educational needs and want to have an impact on supporting their learning, social and emotional development.
• Has high expectations of themself and others.
• Is reliable, hardworking and prepared to go the ‘extra mile’ for our children.
• Is enthusiastic and willing to contribute to the life of our school.
• Holds a current Paediatric First Aid qualification or is willing to get trained.

Shirley Community Primary is situated in north Cambridge, 10 minutes’ walk away from Cambridge North Station, which is on the main trainline between Kings Lynn and London. We are also within easy access of the A10, A14 and M11 roads

Shirley Community Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in our care.

All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

This role is classed as regular activity. Before you proceed with your intention to apply for a position or to support us, please take full consideration of the following points.

• All successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, including a Barred List check where applicable to the role. Where you have been shortlisted for a role, you will be required to complete a Declaration of Offences Form, disclosing all relevant previous criminal convictions and cautions. Please contact the Head teacher to discuss this step further if you wish.
• If you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for, we will carry out an online search against you. This is part of our safeguarding obligations; we will carry out online searches on you as part of our due diligence. This may help identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and are publicly available online, which we might want to explore more at interview. In doing this, we will only be looking at information which might potentially impact your ability to carry out the role, and we recognise that there is a difference between your public and private life. We will carry out this search if you are shortlisted for the position you are applying for.
• We will assess your knowledge of safeguarding by asking specific questions about this area of our role during the interview process and your answer to this question will form part of our decision-making process.
• You will be provided with an induction process, and you are expected to engage with this monitored process.
• Our safeguarding policies and procedures will be explained during your induction and on a regular basis.
• Shirley Community Primary complies with the Childcare Act 2006 and the Childcare (Disqualification) and childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement) (Amendment) Regulations 208. All shortlisted candidates whose role will involve the responsibility for the provision or management of such childcare (including teaching) shall be required to declare that they are not disqualified from undertaking such work.
• Application forms must be completed in full. Please pay particular attention to your work history and inform us of any gaps in employment. CVs will only be accepted alongside a completed application form.
• Please ensure that you state full details of your qualifications.
• References may be taken up prior to interviews, and any discrepancies will be addressed during the interview process.

We do not accept CV’s.

Closing date - 9am Monday 7th September 2026

Interview date - TBC (Likely to be W/C 7th or 14th Sept 2026)