We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and committed SEND Support Teaching Assistant to join our welcoming primary school in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and helping every pupil to achieve their full potential.
Working alongside teachers and the wider school team, you will provide individual and small-group support, helping children to access learning, develop their confidence and independence, and thrive within the school environment.
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience working with children, ideally within a primary or SEND setting.
- Is passionate about supporting children with additional needs.
- Can build positive and trusting relationships with pupils.
- Is patient, caring and understanding.
- Has a positive and inclusive approach to learning.
- Can work effectively as part of a team while also using their own initiative.
- Is reliable, enthusiastic and committed to making a difference.
Waterside Primary School is proud to be situated in the heart of Stoke on-Trent where cultural richness and diversity is celebrated within our school and our local community. There is sharp focus at Waterside on becoming respectful and tolerant citizens which enable positive interactions within and beyond our school. Although there is a high level of deprivation, and social challenges we are committed to ‘Empowering Learners’ and enriching lives.
Due to the challenges within our context, we place high priority on developing the whole child. We are highly ambitious and inclusive and strive to intrinsically embed the British Values and our Personal Development curriculum including our school values (Respect, Determination, Excellence, Friendship, Courage, Inspiration, Equality) to ensure that pupils acquire skills and knowledge for future learning and life in modern Britain. All staff at Waterside are highly aspirational and consistently deliver rich learning experiences within our ambitious broad and balance 4D curriculum, that secure academic achievement and progress, whilst going beyond the curriculum to reinforce the skills required for life-long learning.
At Waterside, we understand the importance of equity in ensuring all pupils are able to achieve from their individual starting points, and through the challenging and diversified opportunities that we provide, children become confident learners who are prepared for life beyond the classroom.
Our ambition and passion for success for all, drives the work that we do and the decisions that we make.
All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.
At
Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.
Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or
leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.
Our
values—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything we
do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of
learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working
together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice
matters, and every learner thrives.
We
are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,
proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.
Our
people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development
through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes,
and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled,
confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every
voice,
and foster a culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make
a real difference.
You
will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a
strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has
an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored
learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.
If
you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create
futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.
Together,
let’s make the remarkable happen.
We believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary.
Every
child deserves an exceptional primary education.
At
Shaw Education Trust, we believe the primary years are where confidence grows,
curiosity begins and a lifelong love of learning is nurtured. Across our family
of primary schools, we are committed to creating welcoming,
inclusive environments where every child is known, valued and encouraged to
achieve their very best.
Our
curriculum is designed to inspire children to become confident readers,
effective communicators, curious learners and resilient young people. From the
earliest stages of education through to the transition into secondary school,
we provide engaging learning experiences that help every child develop the
knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive. Through our Trust-wide
Digital Strategy, we also embrace technology to enrich teaching and learning,
preparing pupils for an increasingly digital future.
Shaw
Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or
Support Staff employment:
- An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support
Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Support Staff only based on working full time,
all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of
employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’
service including Bank Holidays)
- Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy
health services designed to support your well-being.
- Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support
and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of
discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free Eye Tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of
Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and
flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We
know our people are the key to our success and so we’re committed to
ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding
one.
Colleagues
within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both
in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the
National Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme
delivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition
Institute.
- Experienced
leadership and subject-specific support.
- Guidance
from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
- Access
to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
- Opportunities
to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
- Participating
in peer reviews.
- Access
to a suite of online courses.
- Placement
projects within our family of schools.
Actual Salary: £18,102 - £18,387
Working hours: 30 hours per week – Monday to Friday – 38 weeks plus 5 Inset Days - (39 weeks)
Waterside Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information
This position is subject to robust vetting procedures, including an online search for all shortlisted candidates, successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks. You will be asked to disclose all relevant unspent and, where applicable, unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions, and convictions.
As part of our safer recruitment and pre-employment checking process, all shortlisted candidates are required to provide original documentation to verify their identity, qualifications and RTW in the UK. Shaw Education Trust requires all applicants to be eligible to work in the UK with no restrictions as we are unable to offer sponsorship/work visas.
This role involves working with children and young people and therefore carries specific safeguarding responsibilities, details of these responsibilities are set out in the JD. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to disclose relevant criminal history information in accordance with current legislation and guidance.
Check if you need to tell someone about your criminal record: https://www.gov.uk/tell-employer-or-college-about-criminal-record/what-information-you-need-to-give
SET is an Equal Opportunities employer, we are fully committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection processes promote EDI at every stage.
In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified.