Apprentice Educational Support Assistant; Level 3); BFSAESA

Contract: Fixed term apprenticeship

Salary: Apprenticeship rate - £8.00 per hour for year 1

Closing date for applications:13 October 2026, 9.00am

Birdsedge Fist School wishes to appoint a kind, caring and hardworking individual to join our committed school team as Apprentice Educational Support Assistants.

This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to begin a career in education, gaining valuable experience while working towards a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification.

You will support groups of children with a range of needs, working closely with teaching staff to help pupils access learning and develop confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment.

Birdsedge First School is a welcoming and inclusive school where staff, parents and children work together to achieve the very best outcomes.

We are proud of our strong sense of community and our commitment to ensuring every child feels valued, supported and able to succeed. We want our children to develop a love of learning and grow into confident, respectful and creative individuals.

We are therefore looking for team members who share this vision and are passionate about supporting children to thrive.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are kind, patient and enthusiastic about working with children
• Are reliable, hardworking and able to work as part of a team
• Have strong communication skills, including the ability to engage children in conversation
• Show initiative, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn
• Are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

• A warm, welcoming and supportive school environment
• A structured Level 3 apprenticeship programme
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Access to Trust-wide support and wellbeing services
• The opportunity to begin and develop a career in education
• Automatic enrolment into Local Government Pension Scheme
• Enhanced occupational benefits (such as maternity, adoption and parental leave)
• Automatic enrolment into our Employer Assistance Programme which gives you and your family members free access to Health and Wellbeing Services.

Interview Date: 19 October 2026

We reserve the right to close advertisements early. Advertisements will therefore close the day the decision has been taken to close the advertisement early. You are therefore advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

We are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health of all our staff with a dedicated wellbeing charter, mental health first aid trained colleagues and wellbeing advocates at each location.

The Mast Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and checks regarding suitability to work with children.

Only in exceptional circumstances will the school interview without references prior, where the candidate does not wish to notify their current employer; applicants must make this clear when applying.

The Mast Academy Trust’s aim is to attract people from diverse backgrounds to build on our inclusive culture and represent the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to inclusivity and will consider requests for flexible working including part time and job share arrangements, where the role allows.