Special Teaching Assistant in Bury St Edmunds

Are you passionate about creating a safe, caring, and inclusive learning environment? Join our team as a Special Teaching Assistant (STA) Tier 1 and support the growth and development of children and young people with moderate learning difficulties. This role is essential in helping students build self-respect, confidence, and independence, preparing them for active participation in their communities. We have 1 to 1 support roles as well as roles dedicated to our Priory - Mount Road provision. Our team are happy to discuss opportunities in detail at interview to identify which post best aligns with your aspirations.

Key responsibilities

• Lesson Support: Assist in preparing and planning lessons, including creating resources and displays that foster a positive learning environment.
• Student Engagement: Work alongside the teacher during lessons, providing focused support in literacy, numeracy, and other curriculum areas; supervise small groups of students as needed.
• Monitoring and Assessment: Maintain accurate records of student needs, track progress, and contribute to regular assessments through observation and feedback.
• Personal Needs Support: Provide tailored assistance for individual students, which may include personal care tasks where necessary.
• Student Interaction and School Values: Build supportive, appropriate relationships with students and model the Priory School Values.
• Social Skills Development: Lead and participate in lunchtime activities to help students enhance social skills and resilience in unstructured settings.
• Supervision and Safety: Supervise students during breaks and transitions throughout the school day, and assist with First Aid as directed.

Requirements

• Experience working with children or young people, ideally within a SEND setting.
• Empathy, patience, and excellent communication skills to connect with students effectively.
• Commitment to inclusive education and to promoting the values of self-respect, confidence, and independence.

If you're ready to make a difference in the lives of students and build your career in a caring, educational setting, apply today!

We offer a wide range of staff benefits including:

• Membership into Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Family friendly policies and flexible working.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Free parking.
• Canteen.
• Company events.
• Access to various memberships and discount schemes.
• Learning and development opportunities - including staff development days.
• Funded subject course development for your role.
• Range of staff communities, including EDI and neurodiverse communities.
• Career progression opportunities.

As a Group, our Character Strengths and Mission Statement underpin our expectations of all our students and employees. Please familiarise yourself with these and incorporate them into your personal statement; this will be of benefit if you are invited to attend for an interview.

This is an opportunity to join a hugely supportive organisation where we value, support and facilitate your professional development, as well as offering many other benefits including an attractive pension scheme, staff wellbeing initiatives and employee assistance.

The Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

How to apply

Please read the job description. For further information please contact our recruitment team at: recruitment@easterneducationgroup.ac.uk Completed application forms should be made via our recruitment portal - if you have not heard from a member of the HR Team within 14 working days, please presume your application has not been successful on this occasion. Closing date: 8am, 13 July 2026. We reserve the right to appoint prior to closing date - early applications are encouraged.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender, gender reassignment, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age in accordance with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

The Group is committed to safeguarding children and safer recruitment practices and will undertake all the required pre-employment checks on the successful candidate including an enhanced DBS Disclosure. All data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. For more information about how we access and use your information please visit our website.