Job Introduction
Special Needs Assistant/LSA
The governors of Sharps Copse Primary School are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, self-motivated and dedicated teaching assistant to support children with complex needs. We are looking for somebody with positive, caring and committed approaches to children and their educational needs. The role will be focused around 1:1 support in the first instance.
At Sharps Copse we strive to provide our children with the very best education, and you will be joining our friendly team of highly motivated and dedicated staff where excellent numeracy, literacy and initiative skills are essential as well as a commitment to making learning both meaningful and fun.
If you are passionate about making learning irresistible and enabling children to achieve their very best within a supportive team, then this position could suit you. We are seeking to appoint a happy, flexible and organised person with a sense of humour to work in classrooms with highly professional and exceptional practitioners. The role will involve working to support individual learning in the classroom, where necessary supporting on a 1:1 basis or within a small group organising relevant resources and providing structured support around individual needs.
As part of the role, if appropriate to your experience and qualification, you may be asked to provide classroom cover for teachers' PPA and/or Leadership time.
Applicants should:
* Have, ideally, a minimum of 2 years relevant experience together with a NVQ3 Teaching Assistant or equivalent qualification (HLTA);
* Have excellent numeracy, literacy and communication skills and relevant qualifications ie, 5 GCSE's at Grades A-C including maths and English;
* Have an understanding, or desire to learn about, more complex needs and neurodiversity
* Have a working knowledge of the expectations of KS1 and KS2 children
* Be professionally discreet and able to respect confidentiality on particular issues;
* Have well developed interpersonal and initiative skills;
* Have a sense of humour enabling effective relationships with a variety of people and be a team worker.
Experience, whilst desirable is not essential as training will be provided for the right candidate. Salary scales will be dependent on qualifications and experience, but will be within Hampshire County Councils pay framework; Scale B, Special Needs Assistant/Learning Support Assistant – Role profile reference 02130.
The post is term time for 30 hours per week from 8.30am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday with 45 mins for lunch and is a temporary post until 19th December 2025 on a fixed term contract.
Application Procedure
We are looking forward to the right candidate joining our team. Visits to our school are strongly encouraged and warmly welcomed. Please contact Mike Elsen, Headteacher or Kate Wood SENCo, for further details on or via email Recruitment packs are available from our Business Manager, Julie Jolliffe via email to The deadline for receipt of applications is at noon on Friday 19th September 2025; interviews are planned for 25th September 2025.
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.