Higher Level Teaching Assistant

About Us

Harris Primary Academy Mayflower is a successful academy that was judged outstanding in every category in our May 2017 Ofsted inspection. Our inspection in November 2024 confirmed that we have continued to hold our 2017 grades.

We are a 5 form entry primary school, opening with a Reception cohort and are growing by a year group at a time with currently 1042 pupils on roll from Nursery to Year 6. This will make our academy, which was funded under the free school programme with backing from Thurrock council, the Department for Education and the Harris Federation which sponsors the free school, the biggest primary free school in the country.

We are a sister school to Harris Primary Academy Chafford Hundred and Harris Academy Chafford Hundred, along with the other Academies in the Harris Federation. We work very closely together and share the very best practice and leadership knowledge and capacity to make the education we offer outstanding. Our shared belief is that children thrive when they feel consistently happy and safe at school and our commitment to excellence is encapsulated in our vision statement: "Excellence, Every child, Every day."

Our Core values of : Manners, Perseverance, Responsibility, Community and Achievement, underpin everything that happens at Harris Primary Academy Mayflower. They are our foundations and we have a clear expectation that all adults as well as children and staff model and respect these values both inside and outside the academy. This is reflected in both the exceptional day to day practice here as well as the outstanding outcomes our children have achieved each year.

Summary

Inspire and transform learning with us. Support local children as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant at Harris Primary Academy Mayflower.

This role is offered on a fixed-term contract to August 2026.

Main Areas of Responsibility

As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, your areas of responsibility will include:

• Complementing the professional work of teachers by taking responsibility for agreed activities under an agreed system of supervision. This may involve planning, preparing and delivering learning activities for individuals/groups or short term for whole classes and monitoring children and assessing, recording and reporting on their achievement, progress and development.
• The management and development of teaching within the academy and/or management of other teaching assistants including allocation and monitoring of work, appraisal and training
• Under an agreed system of supervision, taking a lead role within the academy to address the needs of children who need particular help to overcome barriers to learning
• Supporting children, the teacher and the academy in order to raise standards of achievement for all (e.g. SEN, EAL, More Able, all underachieving groups)
• Encouraging children to become independent learners, providing support for their welfare, and supporting the inclusion of children in all aspects of academy life

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above
• NVQ Level 3, or equivalent
• Good knowledge of a range of learning barriers, including special needs
• Experience of contributing to and assessing provision for children with a range of needs
• Some knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• At least two years' school based experience as a TA, or equivalent

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.