Description ROLE: Teaching assistant (maternity cover, beginning April 2025) SCHOOL: Gatcombe Park Primary School HOURS: Full time/Fixed term contract (30.42 hours) SALARY: Band 3 scale point 3 Actual £17, 588 (FTE £24, 027) CLOSING DATE: 12.03.25 (12.00 pm) INTERVIEW DATE: 19.03.25 START DATE: 22nd April 2025 An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and experienced teaching assistant to join our support staff at Gatcombe Park Primary School, part of Hamwic Education Trust (HET). HET is a large, fast-paced Trust with currently 37 academies across the South Coast. Linked to 6 community-based partnerships, there are 34 primary academies, 2 secondary and 1 hospital school. Gatcombe Park Primary School awarded ‘Good’ by Ofsted is seeking to recruit an experienced teaching assistant to join our team. Gatcombe Park Primary School is a 1-form entry school, situated on the north side of Portsmouth, with a strong community ethos where everyone is valued. Our vibrant learning environment and attractive school grounds enable and motivate our pupils, who are keen to learn and enjoy all aspects of school life. We were rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in May 2023. ‘All about the Child’ At HET, we aim to put the child at the centre of everything we do. We believe that by doing this, it drives our ethos and values to do the best we can for our children. ‘What about Sam’ Sam is the name we have given to the notional Hamwic child. By asking ourselves ‘What about Sam?’ we ensure that we put our pupils at the heart of our decision making. JOB/PERSON SUMMARY: The postholder will play an important role in supervising the activities of pupils during the school day including half an hour of the midday sessional break within the school. This will include both indoors and outdoors areas, ensuring a safe environment is maintained at all times. To assist the Headteacher/SENCO to promote pupils’ academic, social and emotional development through the development and implementation of programmes of pupil work and support (individual and group) and in the provision of a stable, caring and supportive learning environment; to enable pupils to achieve their full learning potential and facilitate their personal, academic, social and moral development. WE ARE SEEKING A PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS: A commitment and passion for education and to support every child’s academic achievement and personal development A positive communication style and is successful at building relationships within the school High expectations for children’s behaviour and achievement Ability to work under pressure with good time management skills Ability to think creatively and adapt learning to motivate and meet needs WE CAN OFFER YOU: Excellent CPD opportunities and Training and Development Programmes In-house Teaching School An individual induction programme supported by a mentor Networking groups for Teachers, Business Managers, Site Teams and IT staff Eligibility to join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme Generous holiday entitlement for staff working 52 weeks per year which increases with length of service Free eye tests up to the value of £25 for users of VDU equipment and contribution up to the value of £60 towards the purchase of glasses specifically for the use of display screen equipment (where all conditions are met) Opportunity to become a school workplace Health and Wellbeing representative, meeting with other schools on a termly basis and feeding into the Health and Wellbeing strategy Access to the Trust Health and Wellbeing pages Access to a staff benefits portal through Vivup Free confidential telephone and face to face counselling for staff and family members APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Should you wish to apply for this vacancy, please view the job description and complete the application form which can be found at www.hamwic.org and return to Ms Carolyn Coleby, ccolebygatcombepark.portsmouth.sch.uk. Visits to the school are encouraged. SAFEGUARDING: All schools with the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. THE RIDINGS PARTNERSHIP The Ridings Partnership is part of an umbrella Trust called the Hamwic Education Trust. At the Hamwic Education Trust we offer unique opportunities for those individuals that excel in education. We aim to deliver an outstanding education to our pupils and to do so we must employ outstanding people. We offer a training pathway for all employees including teachers, support staff and our middle and senior leaders. Our staff have opportunities to work on cross phase projects and to work in other schools within the Trust in order to gain invaluable experience and enhance their skills.