The posting
Be the relational anchor in our classrooms. Support children to flourish every single day.
Essentials
- Location: Wolvercote Primary School, First Turn, Wolvercote, Oxford, OX2 8AQ
- Contract Type: Permanent
- Working Pattern: Part-time, 2 days per week (08:30 - 15:15)
- Salary: Grade 4 (pro-rata)
- Closing Date: 16th October 2026 12:00pm | Shortlisting: 16th October 2026| Interview Date: w/c 19th October 2026
- Start Date: 2nd November 2026
"Our children notice the staff who show up with warmth, patience, and a genuine smile. At Wolvercote, you are a key partner in the classroom, helping every child feel understood and capable."
Are you a resilient, reflective person who believes that strong relationships sit at the heart of learning? At Wolvercote Primary School, we combine high standards with deep care. We use restorative practice to understand each child's individual needs, ensuring they feel supported academically, behaviourally, and emotionally.
Whether leading phonics sessions or joining in with signing assemblies, you will join a supportive, collaborative team that regularly reviews workload and actively invests in your continuous professional development.
Why This Role Matters
As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with our classroom teachers and Inclusion Coordinator to break down barriers to learning. You will provide targeted support across the curriculum, with a strong focus on children with special educational needs. Your presence, consistency, and problem-solving mindset will give children the confidence to attempt new challenges and achieve their best.
What You’ll Bring
- A resilient, 'can-do' approach to problem-solving and teamwork.
- A kind, caring, and empathetic nature aligned with our restorative practice approach.
- High expectations for children’s academic, behavioral, and emotional progress.
- A willingness to learn, reflect on your practice, and engage in CPLD.
- The ability to act as a positive, relational role model for young learners.
- Previous experience supporting children with special educational needs (desirable, but mindset and values are key).
The Wolvercote Difference
- Relational Ethos: We prioritize relationships above all else, creating a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment that visitors always comment on.
- Evidence-Informed Practice: We use restorative approaches to understand behaviour and support the whole child.
- Staff Wellbeing in Action: We take a collaborative approach to teamwork and actively review staff workload to protect your work-life balance.
- Continuous Growth: A school culture committed to reflective practice and helping staff continuously develop their professional agency.
The River Learning Trust Connection
Education has the power to change lives. As part of the River Learning Trust (RLT), Wolvercote Primary School benefits from being part of a collaborative family of schools across Oxfordshire.
- Professional Security: Access to recognized continuous public sector service and a secure, government-backed Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Shared Growth: Structured opportunities for professional development, funded qualifications, and apprenticeship pathways.
- The Whole Person: A culture that values your individual contribution, backed by 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
River Learning Trust and Wolvercote Primary School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. We are an exempt employer under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. We actively value the "different contributions" you can make. We want you to be at your best during the application process; if you require any reasonable adjustments, please let us know. Note: We do not accept CVs; please apply via My New Term. We reserve the right to interview and appoint exceptional candidates early.
Discover Your Pathway
- Discover Your Impact: [Read the Full Job Description and Person Specification]
- Start a Conversation: To arrange a visit to the school or speak informally about the role, please contact [Insert Contact Name/Email/Phone].
- The Future Path: Not the right time? Register with our Talent Pool to hear about new opportunities first. [Insert Talent Pool Link]
Our school is part of the River Learning Trust. Our collective vision is to be a Trust where pupils and staff thrive in schools which demonstrate commitment to excellence, everyone learning, respectful relationships.
Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.
OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.
OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.
OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.
Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.
This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.
The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.
If you would like to have a confidential conversation with Mrs Mandy Hayes, Headteacher, about the role, prior to application, then please email [email protected] or telephone 01865 558301.
The River Learning Trust and Wolvercote Primary School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered
