Teaching Assistant & Midday

Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Term time only (39 weeks)
Hours: 18 hours per week - 3 days 8.45 - 3.45 - specifics TBC
Actual Starting Salary (calculated pro rata): £10,160 per annum
Salaries are paid in 12 equal monthly instalments

Are you calm, confident and have the skills to support classroom activities safely? Are you able to create a positive learning environment? Can you support the running of midday meals?

We are now recruiting a Teaching Assistant and Midday Meals Supervisor working as part of the support team.

We are seeking candidates with the following skills and experience:

• Experience of establishing positive relationships with students empathise with their needs (desirable)
• Knowledge of SEN (desirable)
• Maths and English GCSE Grade A- C or equivalent
• Confident in supervising children during activities indoors and outdoors
• Patient, calm and relaxed with an enthusiastic approach to learning

Please refer to the job description for further details.

Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

Blackthorns is a warm and welcoming primary academy in the beautiful village of Lindfield, near Haywards Heath in West Sussex. We currently have 210 pupils on roll in our seven classes, with one class in every year.

We have high expectations for our pupils and they leave Blackthorns well‑prepared for the next stage in their education as confident and articulate young people with strong foundations in English and Maths. We place great importance on providing opportunities for children to excel across the curriculum and strive to provide enrichment experiences for our pupils to ensure that they have a memorable seven years of primary education.

Visit us: Home - Blackthorns Community Primary Academy

We truly value the experience, dedication, and commitment of all our employees and believe in the power of motivated and happy staff. This is why we seek to enrich and reward our employees wherever we can, by offering a wide range of exciting and useful employee benefits. These include:

• Automatic annual pay increments: Pay progression is not linked to performance and all our staff benefit from automatic pay progression (subject to the maximum salary for the role). Cost of living awards are also reviewed annually.
• Generous Pension: Safeguard your future with financial security throughout your retirement. Employer contribution rate of 22.7%.
• Holiday Entitlement: Take advantage of 25 days annual leave per annum (FTE), plus statutory Bank Holidays.
• Health and Wellbeing: A strong commitment to your health and wellbeing including; onsite Wellbeing Champions, designated Mental Health Ambassadors and an annual day devoted to your health and wellbeing. This day provides the opportunity to spend valuable time catching up with colleagues, as well as some ‘Time for You’ to do whatever most enhances your wellbeing.
• Personal Development Day: One day annually dedicated to your personal development which could include volunteering, training or a seminar (self-funded).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to free and confidential counselling services, providing support for both work and personal issues.
• Cycle to Work: Build exercise into your commute, with our cycle‑to‑work programme, offering a £2K loan to purchase a bicycle.
• Retail Discount: Savings with hundreds of retailers including gym, private medical, dental and online GP service, as well as eligibility for the Blue Light Discount Scheme.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check. This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013, 2020 and 2023. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Further information is available here:
Guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013, 2020 and 2023 ().

We welcome applications from all members of the community. The Trust is proud to be part of the government’s Disability Confident scheme which underpins our staff and volunteer recruitment practices. If you would like any support or assistance at any stage of the recruitment process please let us know, by contacting us by email to

Caroline Newton - c.newton@li

For further information about this opportunity please download the attached job description and personal specification, and view our candidate pack here:
Candidate Pack.

Please apply today.

Closing date: 7th December

Interview date: w/c 15th December

Proposed start date: 5th Jan 2026

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A helpful guide to completing your application is available here:
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