We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and resourceful Teaching Assistant to join our team at Shillingstone Primary School, on a fixed-term basis specifically to cover the special needs of an identified child. This post will primarily be working with Year 5 and represents an outstanding opportunity for an enthusiastic and qualified member of support staff who is keen to develop.

The successful candidate will:

• Show respect to others and be able to embrace the ethos and values of the trust
• Be positive, optimistic, caring, kind and approachable
• Be willing to be immersed in the life of a busy school

To arrange a visit to view the school, please contact Teresa Adams, School Administrator on 01258 860446 or by email at office@shillingstone.dorset.sch.uk.

SAST is a strong and ambitious Trust of both primary and secondary schools seeking to ensure an excellent and sustainable 0-19 education for children within our community across West and North Dorset as well as South Somerset. The Trust now consists of 5000 children and over 850 staff working in our 17 schools and shared services teams

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This will be part of safer recruitment check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust (SAST) recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.