Teaching Assistant (Reception)
Welcome to Pownall Hall School.
Step through our gates and you will feel it straight away – this is no ordinary prep school. Pownall Hall is a place where tradition meets adventure; where beautiful, historic walls echo with laughter and the sound of muddy boots racing across the fields.
We are a community bound by purpose: pupils, teachers, families, governors, and friends all working together to nurture remarkable young people. Our children achieve exceptional academic results, but more importantly, they grow as individuals – resilient, unique, and ready to thrive in the world beyond our doors.
Our setting gives us something really special: from our woodland forest school and wildlife pond to the Boddington Theatre, science lab, astro pitch and full-sized sports hall, every space has been designed to inspire. It’s a place where children can explore, discover and enjoy being children – every single day.
The Role: Reception Teaching Assistant
Due to an internal promotion, we are delighted to be recruiting for an experienced Teaching Assistant within our Reception team.
The successful candidate will support the Reception Teacher in delivering high-quality care and education, helping to create a nurturing, inspiring and engaging environment for the children in their care.
Our Reception year group is made up of two classes, each capped at 18 children maximum with their own Teacher and Teaching Assistant. Outside of their classroom and core subjects, children enjoy specialist teachers across PE, in the sports hall and sports field, Music, in the dedicated Music Room, Forest School, Yoga and French.
Pownall Hall offers a unique opportunity for Teaching Assistants where you spend lots of time outside the classroom, really enjoying our full 8 acre site and facilities, working collaboratively with our wonderful staff team.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist teaching staff in the delivery of learning activities and work programmes and undertake pre-determined activities with pupils so that their intellectual and social development (including self reliance and self-esteem) is fostered
- Provide input into the planning and evaluation of learning activities for individuals and groups of pupils
- Supervise activities of individuals or groups of pupils both in and out of the classroom to ensure their safety and facilitate their physical and emotional development in accordance with the school’s behaviour management policy
- Monitor and report on individual pupils’ progress and achievements
- Liaise with parents and carers in conjunction with the teaching staff
- Attend to the personal, social and physical needs of pupils so that their well-being is maintained
- Attend staff and other meetings when required and take full and active participation in staff training, development work and staff reviews as required
- Help to develop programmes of learning activities and adapting appropriate materials
This role requires warmth, professionalism and a genuine passion for Early Years education.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for candidates who:
- Are passionate about Early Years education
- Have experience working within a Reception classroom
- Are qualified to Level 3 in childcare
- Have experience using learning journey platforms, direct experience of Tapestry would be advantageous
- Bring energy, care and consistency to their work with children
Application Process
Please submit your completed application form, which can be downloaded below, alongside a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, addressed to Georgia Flynn, Head of Early Years, to: admissions@pownallhallschool.co.uk.
Due to safer recruitment in schools policies and requirements, we are unable to accept CV’s and therefore are only able to consider your application once the Pownall Hall application form has been received.
Our commitment to safeguarding
Pownall Hall School is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates – full details are in our Safer Recruitment Policy on our website. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.