1 To 1 Teaching Assistant

At St Nicholas we use communication as a connection and we all believe that every child has a voice, even if they don't use words.

To work with a child with a specific education health and care plan, we are seeking a motivated individual with a passion for Communication and Interaction (C&I). In this role, you aren’t just assisting; you are an architect of environment and a facilitator of expression. You will work under the guidance of the child's Teacher and our SENDCo to deliver specific plans, while taking a proactive lead in developing the provision that makes our school a communication-friendly hub.

At St Nicholas we are always Safe, Ready & Respectful. We don't look at "behaviour" in isolation. As a trauma-informed organisation, we understand that a child’s ability to learn is rooted in their sense of safety. Our culture is built on three golden rules that apply to every student and staff member:

Be Safe: We provide the emotional and physical security children need to take risks in their learning.

Be Ready: We proactively adapt the environment so every child is regulated and prepared to engage.

Be Respectful: We value diverse communication styles and treat every interaction as a meaningful connection.

What You Will Do? As a vital member of our support team, you will

balance the child's directed work with your creativity.

Follow the teacher's planning for 1:1 and small group interventions, while actively suggesting ways to improve our C&I resources.

Provide the "scaffolding" children need to access the curriculum, focusing on their specific speech, language, and social needs.

Work as a seamless extension of our teaching team, ensuring that "Safe, Ready, Respectful" isn't just a slogan, but a lived experience.

Who You Are...

You need to demonstrate a genuine interest in SEND, specifically how children interact and process information. Be comfortable following a structured plan but have the confidence to help develop new ways of working.

You will possess a trauma-informed mindset, remaining calm and positive in a busy, evolving school environment.

Why join us?

As part of Plymouth CAST Multi-Academy Trust, you will benefit from:

1. Access to high-quality professional development and training opportunities across the Trust
2. Career progression routes within a network of schools
3. Collaboration and support from experienced colleagues across the MAT
4. A strong sense of belonging to a wider educational community with shared values and vision
5. Our commitment to staff wellbeing – as a proud signatory of the Department for Education’s Staff Wellbeing Charter, we actively promote and protect the wellbeing and mental health of all colleagues.

What we offer:

1. A welcoming and supportive staff team
2. Opportunities for training and professional development
3. Competitive pay – aligned to nationally agreed pay scales
4. Pension scheme – most support staff are eligible for the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the best public sector pensions
5. Employee Benefit Discount Scheme (retail discounts and cashback offers)
6. Cycle to Work Scheme
7. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – free counselling, wellbeing, and advice service
8. The chance to make a real difference to the lives of young people

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS Disclosure is required for this post (carried out by the school).