Teaching Assistant & Midday Supervisory Assistant (MDSA)

About the Role

Pickwick Academy Trust invites applications for the positions of Teaching Assistant (TA) and Midday Supervisory Assistant (MDSA) based at St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, located in Laverstock, Salisbury. This is a permanent part-time role combining 17.5 hours per week as a TA and 2.5 hours per week as an MDSA, forming a comprehensive employment package.

The salary for the Teaching Assistant role is Grade D, bands 4-6 with a full-time equivalent (FTE) salary range from £25,185 to £25,989 annually, pro-rated to about £8,452 to £8,722 per annum for the part-time hours. The MDSA role is graded at B3 with a full-time equivalent salary of £24,796 annually, resulting in a pro-rated amount of £562 per annum for 2.5 weekly hours.

Role Summary and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will enthusiastically support early years learners by fostering their confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for learning. As a Teaching Assistant, you will support the youngest students to engage fully in their educational journey. The MDSA duties involve overseeing children during lunchtime and playtimes to ensure their safety, happiness, and continued engagement, working autonomously and collaboratively with the team. Please note these roles are interlinked and resignation from one requires resignation from both.

School Environment

St. Andrew's school nurtures a welcoming, safe, and stimulating environment where every child’s unique abilities are recognized and fostered. The school aims to embed its core values of love, honesty, and respect in everyday activities, encouraging curiosity, celebrating effort, and motivating pupils to explore and achieve their highest potential.

Employer Benefits and Culture

Joining the Pickwick Academy Trust means becoming part of a supportive community that values inclusion, professional development, and well-being. Benefits include a robust pension scheme, flexible and family-friendly work arrangements, employee support services such as counselling, free eye tests and glasses if required, flu vaccination programs, retail discounts, emergency salary advances, and a cycle-to-work scheme.

The Trust embraces a culture of kindness, trust, and collaborative goal-setting with a strong emphasis on staff well-being, inclusive practices, and career progression opportunities.

Application and Selection Process

The closing date for applications is midnight Tuesday 8th September 2026, with interviews scheduled for Wednesday 16th September 2026. Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications via the specified recruitment platform and not through general job boards or websites. CV submissions are not accepted. Visits to the school are welcomed to better understand the environment and role expectations.

Equality, Inclusion & Safeguarding

Pickwick Academy Trust welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and is committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled or neurodivergent candidates. All successful applicants will undergo a thorough safeguarding procedure including enhanced DBS checks and reference verification, maintaining compliance with updated child protection policies effective from 2026. The Trust also conducts online presence assessments for shortlisted applicants to ensure suitability to work with children.