What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and resourceful Teaching Assistant to join our team at Thornford Primary School, on a fixed-term basis until July 2025. The successful applicant will be required to provide lunch cover as a midday supervisor 2 hours a week. This post represents an outstanding opportunity for an enthusiastic and qualified member of support staff who is keen to develop.
You are asked to provide the following:
• A completed application form
• A letter of application (no more than two sides of A4) outlining how your knowledge, skills and experience fit this role
Applications should be sent by email to: recruitment@sast.org.uk
Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the school, please do not hesitate to contact Lousie Heath, School Administrator on 01935 872706 or via email on office@thornford.dorset.sch.uk
What the school offers its staff
At Thornford School we are a small rural Church of England primary school set in beautiful grounds in a small village, close to the market town of Sherborne. We have strong links with the local church, St. Mary Magdalene and our golden thread: Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, is used to promote positive attitudes and behaviours amongst our pupils. From their first day in Reception, our children come into a safe, happy learning environment, where they are nurtured. Hard work and a growth mindset are encouraged and there is provision for the children’s individual needs in order for pupils to achieve their potential. They are well-prepared socially and academically for the next stage of their education by our dedicated staff.
We teach a creative curriculum based on the 2014 National Curriculum. All the staff have a shared ethos about child-centred education, working together to develop the whole child, encouraging lively enquiring minds; the ability to question and argue rationally; apply themselves and therefore learn, effectively. We teach the children to become responsible, caring individuals, who respect the values of others. Furthermore, we foster a positive attitude towards the local and global community; developing in the children a sense of their place within it. I am proud to say that Thornford has been judged as, ‘Outstanding’ in its last two Ofsted inspections (May 2007 and 2014) and also in our SIAMS church schools inspection (July 2017). We know the importance of a close partnership between home and school, based on trust, confidence and honesty. We look forward to welcoming you to our school.
We are excited to be part of the SAST. There is real strength in coming together with a collective responsibility for all the children’s development and progress between 0-19 years. We believe in preserving schools in their local community. This means that there will be considerable local expertise to support the school and staff with the chance to contribute to wider developments.
At the heart of SAST is the desire to work in partnership, to collaborate with others and to be outward facing for the benefit of children and staff. The schools have extensive links beyond the immediate area and are keen to extend these further.
We are looking for someone with high expectations, a love of learning, able to inspire and laugh and enjoy the challenges of this role. You need to be a team player; you will go the extra mile to support children. In return, you will join a School and Trust that is full of activity, opportunity, and optimism.
There is further information about the school on our website Thornford CE Primary School and the trust at
Further details about the role
SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. 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.
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.
Commitment to safeguarding
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 meet the person specification and pass all safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check 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.