Location: The Watkin (M23 9TT) and Kershaw Manchester (M22 4NG)
Hours: MondayFriday, 8:15am4:00pm, Term Time (39 weeks)
Salary: £22,800£26,800 actual salary, depending on role, qualifications and experience
Roles available: Teaching Assistant Level 2 | Teaching Assistant Level 3 | Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)
Start Date: September 2026

First Steps Together is looking for committed, resilient and enthusiastic Teaching Assistants to join our team, supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

We have opportunities across Teaching Assistant Level 2, Teaching Assistant Level 3 and Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), providing a clear pathway for candidates with different levels of experience and responsibility.

Whichever level you join us at, you'll play an important part in creating a safe, inclusive and purposeful environment where students can overcome barriers to learning, develop confidence and independence, and achieve their potential.

Our Teaching Assistants play a key role in supporting students with SEN and SEMH needs to access learning, overcome barriers and achieve their potential. You'll build positive relationships with students, support personalised learning and EHCP targets, deliver one-to-one and small-group interventions, promote positive behaviour and emotional regulation, and work closely with teachers to adapt learning to individual needs.

Depending on your qualifications, experience and level of responsibility, opportunities are available from Teaching Assistant Level 2 through to Level 3 and HLTA. More experienced candidates may take greater responsibility for planning and delivering learning, monitoring progress, leading groups and, at HLTA level, delivering whole-class learning and providing lesson cover.

We're looking for positive, resilient and committed people with experience of working with children or young people, ideally including those with additional needs. Relevant qualifications or equivalent experience at Level 2, Level 3 or HLTA/Level 4+ will determine the appropriate level of appointment.

Across our Teaching Assistant team, we're looking for people who can:

• Build positive, professional and trusting relationships with young people.
• Support students with SEN and SEMH needs to access learning and participate fully in school life.
• Remain calm, resilient and consistent when responding to challenging situations.
• Promote positive behaviour, independence, resilience and self-regulation.
• Work effectively alongside teachers, colleagues, families and other professionals.
• Observe, monitor and communicate students' progress, wellbeing and behaviour.
• Adapt support to meet individual needs.
• Contribute positively to an inclusive, supportive and aspirational school culture.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The level at which you're appointed will reflect your qualifications, experience, skills and the level of responsibility you're ready to undertake.

You'll receive a competitive salary and holiday pay, a term-time working pattern, comprehensive induction and ongoing training, a supportive team culture and opportunities for career progression.

Most importantly, you'll be joining a team with a shared purpose: helping young people feel supported, included, engaged and able to succeed.

First Steps Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment, and appropriate safeguarding and pre-employment checks will form part of the selection process.

Whether you're developing your career as a Teaching Assistant or ready to progress into a higher-level role, we'd love to hear from you.

Please return completed applications to ps-recruitment@fstmanagement.uk

We will be interviewing and recruiting prior to the closing date.

Recruitment Open Day

We will be holding an Open Day for theses roles on Saturday 15th August 2026 at our Head Office (M34 2AX) from 9.00am to 3.00pm. Please come and speak to our Recruitment Team if you have any questions or would like more information about the roles. Alternatively, please email ps-recruitment@fstmanagement.uk