CURRENT VACANCIES
TEACHING ASSISTANT - FIXED TERM - 1 YEAR - 2 posts
FIXED-TERM TEACHING ASSISTANTS (TWO POSTS)
To support our SEND pupils’ academic, social, and personal development during the 2026-27 academic year, we are seeking two patient, empathetic, and child-centred teaching assistants from September 2026 to work in classrooms and wraparound provision across our school operating day of 8:00-17:30.
You will work under the direction of class teachers and the SENDCo to provide targeted 1-1 and group support, particularly ensuring pupils with Education & Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and broader academic and emotional needs can fully access the curriculum and receive appropriate pastoral support.
In addition, as a small rural school, we rely on teaching assistants to operate our wraparound provision, providing appropriate levels of care and supervision from familiar adults. Hours associated with teaching assistant roles include supervision of pupils at our breakfast and/or after-school clubs.
ROLE NAME: Teaching Assistant (TA) x 2
JOB TYPE: Teaching Assistant
EMPLOYER: Fir Ends School
REPORTING TO: SENDco, Headteacher
WORK PATTERN: Part-time
CONTRACT: Fixed Term (1 year with potential to extend)
JOB FAMILY: PCD5
GRADE: 5
SALARY: P6, FTE £25,989 (pro-rata) term-time only
AVAILABLE POSTS:
- POST A: 22 hours per week
- POST B: 20 hours per week
Notes:
- Working patterns will be finalised upon successful recruitment for both posts within the daily staffing plan for school-day operations.
- Both posts will be eligible for overtime hours on an ad-hoc basis.
- Both posts may involve working hours that extend into breakfast and/or after-school club sessions.
- Either or both posts may be extended into the 2027-28 academic year subject to a budgetary and structural review in April/May
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found in the pack that can be found on our website at or requested via email to contact@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk
- Closing Date: 12:00pm on Monday 22nd June 2026
- By Post: Fir Ends School, Skitby Road, Smithfield, CA6 6AY
- By Email: head@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk
Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be arranged at Fir Ends School following the closing date, and ideally in week commencing 29th June. References will be requested for all candidates selected for interview.
For informal enquiries or questions about the role or the application process, please contact the Headteacher, Mr. Daryl Spencer, on 01228 675283 or head@fir-ends.cumbria.sch.uk.
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Fir Ends School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.
To comply with safeguarding procedures and policies, candidates shortlisted for interview will be required to complete a confidential statement of disclosure of criminal convictions and will be subject to an online background search prior to interview. References for all candidates will be requested prior to interview.
Full details of the role and how to apply can be found in documents below.
APPLICATION PACK:
APPLICATION FORMS
Unless otherwise advised, applications for all posts should include the standard County Council Application Form. This can be found in pdf and word formats here:
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Fir Ends School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure.
To comply with safeguarding procedures and policies, candidates shortlisted for interview will be required to complete a confidential statement of disclosure of criminal convictions and will be subject to an online background search prior to interview. References for all candidates will be requested prior to interview.
PRE-INTERVIEW SAFEGUARDING CHECKS & DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS - ALL VACANCIES
All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to hold or undergo a suitable enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure.
However, amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020)) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are considered 'protected'. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website or see here.
Short-listed candidates for any post will be asked to complete a criminal record and other sanctions self-disclosure form to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered or protected, prohibitions and disqualifications, to be returned to the school prior to the date of the interview.
You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this criminal record self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed.
In addition to the above, as part of our due diligence checks, the school reserves the right to carry out an online search on short-listed candidates. This will only include a search for information which is publicly available online.
Please note it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
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