Teaching Assistant

2 Positions Available – Whittaker Road & Main Site!

Are you passionate about making a real difference to the lives of children and young people? Do you have the patience, enthusiasm and commitment to help every learner reach their full potential?

We are looking for two dedicated Grade 4 Teaching Assistants to join our supportive and committed team within our special school.

We have two exciting opportunities available:

• • Teaching Assistant based at our Whittaker Road site
• 1 Teaching Assistant based at our main school site

Our school provides a nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment for children and young people with a range of additional needs. As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting pupils to engage in learning, develop their independence and achieve their personal and educational goals.

Working alongside teachers and other professionals, you will:

• • Provide high-quality support to pupils both within the classroom and across the wider school environment.
• • Support pupils with their learning, development and individual targets.
• • Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• • Encourage pupils to develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• • Support pupils with a range of additional needs and learning differences.
• • Help create a safe, calm and positive learning environment.
• • Support pupils to manage their emotions and behaviour using agreed strategies.
• • Work as part of a committed team, contributing to individual education and support plans.
• • Assist with personal care where required, depending on the needs of the pupils.
• • Work closely with teachers, families and other professionals to ensure pupils receive consistent support.

We are looking for someone who is:

• • Caring, patient and compassionate.
• • Enthusiastic about working with children and young people with additional needs.
• • Resilient, adaptable and able to remain calm in challenging situations.
• • A positive role model who can build strong relationships with pupils.
• • A good communicator and team player.
• • Committed to inclusion, safeguarding and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.
• • Willing to learn and develop their skills within a specialist educational setting

St Andrew’s is a day special school for pupils with severe learning difficulties and ASD aged 11 -19 years. Our Special settings cater for children and young people with a wide range of Special Educational Needs from children with profound medical needs and life limiting conditions, those with severe, moderate and sensory  needs through to young people with social emotional and mental health needs that require support and understanding to help them to navigate their world.

Please note, St Andrew’s Academy is a school that is based over two sites. During your employment at our school, you may be asked to work at either site, but any moves would be discussed with yourself prior. 

Our main site is based at St Andrew’s View, Breadsall Hilltop, Derby, DE21 4EW and most students on site are in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 with a small number of students who are aged 16-19. 

Our FE (Further Education) Campus is based at 66 Whitaker Road, Derby, DE23 6AR. All students here are aged 16-19 and this site is based close to the city centre.

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.

Make a life-changing difference in one of our special schools

Our special schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places to work. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities to discover their strengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives.

Our pupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severe learning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Every pupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised and celebrated.

Join us and help transform lives, including your own.

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: £20,766 - £21,428 
Working Hours: Monday to Friday – 35 hours per week – 38 weeks plus 5 inset days (39 in total)