Teaching Assistant - Merley First School

Merley First School is looking for an enthusiastic and capable Teaching Assistant G5 to join our fantastic EYFS team. Could this be you?

Actual Salary £18,586 - £18,881 per annum (Grade 5 pay award pending)

This job is Part Time - Term Time Only for 31.25 hours per week and 39 weeks per year. 

Approximate start date 01-Jun-2026.

This is a permanent position for five days per week, 8.30 to 15.15, which may be subject to change according to business need.

The role involves working alongside the class teacher, supporting the children’s learning both inside and outside the classroom and facilitating small intervention groups and 1:1 support, to enable all children to achieve their full learning potential and flourish. Experience of working with children in a school environment is essential for this role. 

We are looking for someone who:

• is willing to embrace, support and develop the ethos of our school

• is able to work as part of a team but also use their initiative and is committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for our children

• can lead, inspire and motivate children in line with the school’s vision and values

• will assist in all aspects of children's learning

• can provide support, care and supervision of pupils within the school, promoting positive expectations of pupils’ behaviour

• has positive and mutually supportive relationships with colleagues 

• has good interpersonal and communication skills

Please refer to the attached job description for more details about the role.  

If you have any further questions, please contact the recruiting manager Nikki Daunt 01202 888455 or by emailing [email protected]

Merley First School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

The school will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding 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 on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Merley First School is a two form entry First School set on the outskirts of Wimborne, and is part of Initio Learning Trust. It is a vibrant school that is well resourced; has extensive opportunities for outdoor learning; has a happy, friendly and supportive staff team, a commitment to professional development and eager children who want to do their best.

For more information please visit our school website

We welcome visits to our school - if you would like to arrange a visit or require more information, please refer to the contact details above.

Initio Learning Trust offers a welcoming and supportive environment and can provide:

• a genuine commitment to supporting professional development

• a supportive and flexible working environment which offers equal opportunities for all

• free onsite parking

• access to the local government or teachers pension scheme 

• a range of employee benefits including Cycle to Work and Health Cash Plan