Teaching Assistant Level 3

Teaching Assistant - Level 3

About The Big Life Group

The Big Life Group’s mission is to fight for equity, in health, in wealth and in life. We are a social business delivering a range of services across the North of England, covering everything from mental and physical health, addiction and criminal justice, to housing, education, family support and much more. What links them together is the way we work – The Big Life Way.

We always stand shoulder-to shoulder with people, working with them on the things that matter most to them. Everything we do is designed and informed by the needs, priorities and strengths of people and communities.

Our values

• 
  Courage: We stand up for ourselves, and the people and communities we work alongside, even when that makes us unpopular, or challenges accepted wisdom.
• Creativity: We find innovative solutions that work, never accepting the easy option or the status quo.
• Honesty: We act with integrity, speaking the truth to ourselves and others.
• Inspiration: We are inspired by the people and communities we work with and share what we learn from them to inspire others.
• Thoughtful: We act with care and compassion and work to understand people’s experiences. We take time to listen, reflect and continually learn.
• Valuing difference: We recognise and celebrate the unique qualities, gifts, insights and perspectives that different people offer.

Working at Big Life Schools

Big Life Schools is a Multi-Academy Trust which functions as part of the wider Big Life Group, and we share those group-led values within our school communities. At Big Life Schools, work is more than a job – it’s about standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people and communities, making a difference every day. We fight for equity in health, in wealth and in life, and that commitment starts with our staff.

Be yourself

We want you to feel safe, respected and able to bring your whole self to work. Difference is celebrated here, and our staff networks - from menopause to neurodiversity, LGBTQI+ and more - create space to connect and support each other.

Benefits that matter

We offer more than a payslip - you’ll find wellbeing support through LifeWorks, Simply Health and mindfulness sessions, your birthday off, and regular learning opportunities. Everyday perks include Blue Light Card discounts, savings schemes, cycle-to-work, free eye tests and more - little extras to make life easier inside and outside of work.

Recognised as outstanding

We’re proud to be ranked by Best Companies as one of the UK’s outstanding places to work, with a two-star accreditation in 2024.

Support and progression

We work with all our teaching and support staff to explore ways of reducing workload and improving wellbeing. When joining our schools, you can expect a range of support from senior leaders, who operate a coaching model, and from the dedicated curriculum and wellbeing leads.

If you’re looking for more than a job - if you want to be part of a team that’s bold, creative and relentlessly committed to equity – then Big Life could be the place for you.

About Unity Community Primary School

Big Life Schools currently has two primary schools within Manchester, each with an attached nursery: Longsight Community Primary School (Longsight) and Unity Community Primary School (Cheetham Hill).

Unity Community Primary is a two-form entry primary school serving a richly diverse community in Cheetham, North Manchester. Unity is part of the multi-academy trust Big Life Schools, which shares the vision and values of the Big Life group.

We have nearly 400 pupils aged 2-11, coming from many different countries and speaking 38 different languages. Our pupils are happy children who love school, and we want to encourage them to have the best possible start in life. We work hard to be a truly inclusive community. Diversity, respect and tolerance are at the core of our school identity, and we are proud to have the Rights Respecting Gold Award and the Belonging Matters Charter Mark.

As a school we use trauma-informed approaches to support our children’s emotional health and wellbeing. We also put a great emphasis on developing positive relationships between every member of our school community.

Candidates are highly encouraged to visit the school and discuss the position with a member of our Senior Leadership. Please ring the school office on 0161 871 2614 or visit www.unitycommunityprimary.com for more information about our school.

The Big Life Schools is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The post is subject to an Enhanced DBS with a check of adults barred list and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

Job Description: Teaching Assistant Level 3

The basics

Salary

Grade 4 NJC point 7-11 pro rata

Hours

35 hours per week 8.15-3.45pm term-time only on a permanent basis, starting in September 2026

Annual leave

13 weeks - School holidays

Base

Unity Community Primary School

Line manager

Assistant Headteacher

Closing date for applications

Thursday, 11 June at 9am. Interviews will take place on Tuesday, 16 June.

What you’ll be doing

As a Teaching Assistant (Level 3), you will with teachers across the primary phase to support teaching and learning, providing specialist support to the teacher in an aspect of the curriculum, age range or additional needs.

Main duties

• Provide learning activities for individuals and groups of pupils under the professional direction and supervision of a qualified teacher, differentiating and adapting learning programmes to suit the needs of allocated pupils
• Assess, record and report on development, progress and attainment as agreed with the teacher
• Monitor and record pupil responses and learning achievements, drawing any problems which cannot be resolved to the attention of the teacher
• Plan and evaluate specialist learning activities with the teacher, writing reports and records as required
• Select and adapt appropriate resources/methods to facilitate agreed learning activities
• Support pupils in social and emotional well-being, reporting problems to the teacher as appropriate

Teaching assistants in this role are expected to undertake at least one of the following. The options listed below are alternative specialisms and only the specialism actually applicable should be evaluated.

• Provide specialist support to pupils with special educational needs, for example, learning, behavioural, communication, social, sensory or physical difficulties
• Provide specialist support to pupils where English is not their first language
• Provide specialist support to gifted and talented pupils
• Provide specialist support to all pupils in a particular learning area (e.g. ICT, literacy, numeracy, National Curriculum subject).

For the full recruitment pack, including the job description and person specification, go to: Vacancies Archive - The Big Life Group

Please use the pack to align yourself to each point on the person spec.