Teaching Assistant

Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, United Kingdom Department: School Support Staff jobs

Barningham CEVC Primary School

Address: Church Road, Barningham, Bury St Edmunds IP31 1DD

Salary: £26,016 - £29,071 per annum (Grade 3)

Hours: 18 hours 30 minutes paid per week. Three days per week, 8.40am–3.20pm, term time only with 30-minute unpaid lunch break each day

Contract: Fixed term contract until 31 August 2027, required as soon as possible

Reference: 5755

Barningham CEVC Primary School are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and creative Teaching Assistant to join our lovely team and support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This is an opportunity to make a real difference in our small, welcoming village school, where relationships matter and every child is valued.

We want our children to feel safe, understood and included, and to develop the confidence to grow and succeed. We are looking for someone who shares this belief and will take time to get to know each child, celebrate their strengths and help them overcome barriers to learning.

You will work closely with class teachers, our SENDCO and other colleagues to support children’s learning, communication, independence and emotional wellbeing.

You will support children in the classroom, in small groups and on a 1 to 1 basis, helping them participate in learning and wider school life. This will include adapting resources under the teacher’s direction, supporting individual learning plans and agreed strategies, and helping children to regulate their emotions and build positive relationships. Personal care, including toileting support, may form part of the role, with appropriate guidance and training.

Our mission is to support pupils, staff and our community to grow in faith, grow in our learning and to grow our future world.

Experience of supporting children with SEND and a calm, patient and encouraging approach are essential. Please see the person specification for the full selection criteria, including qualification requirements. We welcome applications for part-time or job-share arrangements.

We offer a supportive team, opportunities to develop your practice and a school community where your contribution will be valued.

We are

a small, rural village school with high standards

friendly and supportive, with a strong community and family feel

an inclusive school with high ambitions for every child

You will

view each child as an individual, believing that all children can grow and succeed, aligning with our mission

have high ambitions for every child, recognising that children need different support to succeed

be calm, positive and creative, responding to children with kindness and clear, consistent support

be a collaborative and supportive team member.

Our school benefits from a supportive governing body, an active Parents Association (Friends), and excellent outdoor learning opportunities, including access to extensive grounds and a neighbouring public cricket field.

We ask all staff to support our school’s Christian ethos and values. Applicants of all faiths and none are welcome.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment. Please let us know if you need reasonable adjustments or an accessible application format.

About us

We are a small rural village primary school serving the parishes of Barningham, Coney Weston and Knettishall, although a number of our children do come from out of catchment.

The school has a Voluntary Controlled Status under the diocese of St Edmundsbury.

The buildings date from 1859, with more modern additions, and are set in attractive fenced grounds with two playgrounds, grassed areas and gardens. We have a good-sized hall, four classrooms, a small library area and our own school kitchen providing hot meals at lunch time. The school is next to a playing field which we use for PE and after school clubs.

The school caters for children from Nursery (age 3) through to Year 6. Our mixed-age classes are supported by teachers and Teaching Assistants working together to meet the needs of our children.

To find out more about our school, please visit www.barningham.suffolk.sch.uk .

For more information

We would love to show you around our school. Visits and informal conversations are warmly welcomed but are not a requirement for applying. Please contact Louise Scott, Headteacher or Dawn Pipe, Business Manager on 01359 221297 or email [email protected] .

How to apply

Please read the job description and person specification (Word)

Please apply using the school’s application form (Word) and explain how you meet the person specification. CVs alone will not be accepted.

Closing date: 20 November 2026.

Interview date:  30 November 2026.

Barningham CEVC Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be expected to uphold this responsibility in their daily work.

This post involves regulated activity with children. Appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information, references, identity, right to work and relevant qualification checks, and any other checks required for the role. It is an offence to apply if you are barred from regulated activity with children.

Online searches may be carried out on shortlisted candidates as part of our safeguarding due diligence. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, subject to the applicable Exceptions Order and DBS filtering rules. Protected convictions and cautions do not need to be disclosed and cannot be taken into account.

Our safeguarding and child protection policy and policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders are available with the application pack.