Job Description

TEACHING ASSISTANT (XS 10.3)
18 hours per week, term time only

Grade 5, SCP 5 - 25,583 pro-rata, per annum

Required: As soon as possible.

At Dorchester Middle School we aim to provide a personalised curriculum and a quality education designed to meet each young person's needs in an environment that is warm, secure and nurturing. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team in our inclusive community school. Please specify which post you are applying to.

We are looking for someone, preferably with previous experience of supporting pupils with SEND, to work alongside teachers; promote a love of learning for our pupils and to enable them to make progress.

The successful applicant will:
Work as part of a strong team with other teaching assistants and teaching staff. Have the patience and the resourcefulness to support and inspire our pupils with their learning, helping to unlock their potential. Develop personal, social and emotional needs of pupils. Establish positive relationships with pupils, staff and parents. Have excellent communication skills.

Dorchester Middle School is a member of the Wessex Multi-Academy Trust of local First, Middle and Upper schools who share resources, planning and expertise in order to enhance continuity across al stages of children's' education.

We are located in the beautiful county town of Dorchester. We can offer excellent working conditions, a supportive environment and opportunity for further development both within the school and across the Wessex MAT. Dorchester Middle School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Applications can be made or downloaded via: www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/jobs-and-careers. Individual CVs will not be accepted. You can find further details about the school, its facilities and these positions at the school website: https://www.dorchestermid.dorset.sch.uk/.
For more information, please contact Miss Kelly Shutts, Phone: 01305 265651 or email: kshutts@dmsschool.co.uk

Closing Date:

10th December 2025

- Interview Date:

TBC


Dorchester Middle School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.



We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.



The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.



The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.



This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.



This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ's guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.



Keeping Children Safe in Education



Dorchester Middle School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.