Job Description
Student Support Assistant
Location: Fakenham
Salary: £26,427 - £26,847 FTE Actual Salary: £19,966 - £20,645 pro rata per annum
Vacancy Type: Permanent, Term Time Plus 1 week (32.5 hours per week)
Are you passionate about helping young people overcome barriers and reach their full potential?
We’re looking for a committed and compassionate Student Support Assistant to join the dedicated SEND team at Fakenham Academy during the autumn term 2026.
Previous experience of working with young people, or in an educational environment, is desirable. Consideration will be given to applicants who are considering a career in education and wish to gain experience. This is a fantastic opportunity for applicants with patience, understanding and a commitment to the success of every child to join our school community.
Fakenham Academy is a local school with high ambitions and a key drive for continuous improvement. We believe that education is the key to transforming life chances, and that by creating an outstanding learning environment where all students are happy and taught well, we will enhance their prospects to become productive, successful citizens of the future. Our core standards include high expectations of everyone in our learning community; good discipline consistently applied; reliably good quality teaching; a commitment from parents to work in partnership with the academy and respectful, positive relationships between everyone in our learning community.
About the Role
As a Student Support Assistant, you will work flexibly with students across the school who have a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities. You will help them access learning in the classroom, provide tailored support, and promote independence and confidence.
You will be expected to follow the Professional Standards for Teaching Assistants, which include:
- Upholding personal and professional conduct.
- Developing strong knowledge and understanding of your role.
- Supporting high-quality teaching and learning.
- Working effectively with others across the school community.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Professional Competence
The professional competencies expected of a Student Support Assistant are:
- The ability to communicate clearly and tactfully using appropriate methods and an awareness of the impact of your own communication on others.
- Able to maintain positive relationships with all and able to work as an effective and flexible part of a team.
- Willingness to accept responsibility for your own actions; the ability to prioritise effectively, meet deadlines and accept challenges.
- The ability to prioritise effectively, meet deadlines and accept challenges.
The qualifications and previous experience required for a Student Support Assistant are:
- A minimum of a grade C / 4 in English and Maths GCSE
- Experience of working with children of the relevant age in a school, college, care, health service, social care or youth environment.
JOB SPECIFICATION
General Responsibilities
The Student Support Assistant is responsible to work flexibly with our SENCO to ensure our students with a diverse range of special educational needs, including learning, physical and medical difficulties, enabling them access to the Curriculum.
Specific Responsibilities
A non-exhaustive list of specific responsibilities for the role is below and you will be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be required
- To plan and carry out learning activities, both with the teacher/SENCO and independently with small groups of students under the teacher's guidance, adjusting the activities according to student responses.
- To monitor students' responses to learning activities and provide detailed and regular feedback to the teacher on students' progress, and to provide feedback to the student under the guidance of the teacher.
- To help prepare and maintain an orderly and supportive environment in the classroom, including setting up required equipment/resources where appropriate, and assisting with the display of students' work.
- To administer routine tests, invigilate exams and undertake routine marking of students' work.
- To assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times, including before and after school and accompany teaching staff and students on visits, trips and out of school activities as required.
- To promote good student behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage students to take responsibility for their behaviour. Should these incidents involve racism, bullying, harassment, victimization and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, to ensure those involved understand that it is unacceptable.
- To foster and maintain constructive and supportive relationships with parents/carer’s exchanging appropriate information, facilitating their support for their child's attendance, access and learning, and supporting home to school community links.
- To provide support and assistance for students' pastoral needs. These may include help with dressing, caring for sick, injured or distressed students, giving first aid/medicine or accompanying a student to a health centre or hospital, as necessary.
Application Closing Date will be 9.00am on Monday 7 December 2026
Interviews will take place on Friday 11 December 2026
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Sapientia Education Trust, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.