Teaching Assistant (Reception)

Job Introduction

Required for: September 2026

Location: Vincent Square – Westminster Under School

Contract: Full-time (term-time only), permanent

Hours of Work: 8.00am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (term-time only) with 30 minutes unpaid lunch break. 

Salary: £25,124.62 (actual) equating to a full-time equivalent of £33,548.76 per annum. This is a term-time only role

Benefits of working at Westminster:

• Free School lunches when working on site
• Generous School pension scheme
• Free access to the School’s leisure facilities, including a fitness gym (restricted hours)
• Cycle to Work Scheme and season ticket loans following completion of our standard probation period
• Private medical insurance (opt in)

Deadline for applications is 09:00 on Tuesday 28th April 2026. Interviews will take place in-person shortly after the closing date.

We are looking for a Reception Teaching Assistant to bring a caring and positive presence in our Reception classes. Supporting the Reception class, they will help in all aspects of learning and daily routines. 

They will enjoy working with young children and who will relish the opportunity to help support the pastoral and academic development of our first ever Reception pupils. 

They will assist the class teacher in delivering engaging and developmentally appropriate activities that support children’s progress across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Reception Teaching Assistants will therefore need a good understanding of the EYFS framework and Development Matters. 

Candidates must have a full and relevant Level 3 qualification. Knowledge and understanding of the Key Stage 1 curriculum would also be advantageous. Pupils at Westminster Under School progress rapidly, often be work at levels above typical Reception expectations.

This is an exciting time to join the Under School, as we look forward to expansion to become a co-educational school for children aged four to 13 from September 2026. A key part of this role over the next year will therefore be to support the transition to welcoming girls. As such, they will be a respected and valued part of our founding Early Years team. Working with all staff they will contribute to a positive, inclusive and supportive co-educational environment for all our pupils.

Day-to-Day role:

This will involve supporting pupils individually and in small groups, particularly with early reading, phonics and language development. As such, it is desirable for the candidate to have an understanding of phonics teaching and early literacy development. 

Outside of lessons, the Teaching Assistant will supervise pupils during playtimes. They will support learning through play in the indoor and outdoor environments, and assist with educational visits. They will also fulfil a range of administrative and practical tasks. This includes preparing engaging learning resources and maintaining stimulating classroom displays. 

Reception Teaching Assistants will also support the after-school club provision on a rotational basis (within contracted hours, finishing at 4:30pm). They will help ensure a safe, enjoyable and nurturing environment for pupils at the end of the school day. 

Role Responsibilities:

Supporting the learning and development of Reception pupils:

• Assist the class teacher in delivering activities across the EYFS curriculum.
• Supporting children’s progress in line with Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) expectations and the Year 1 curriculum.
• Providing targeted support for pupils during phonics sessions, leading a small group.
• Working with individuals or small groups of pupils throughout the day during ‘carousel’ type activities across the curriculum, as directed by the class teacher.
• Assisting with the preparation and organisation of resources for classroom and outdoor learning activities, including ‘Outdoor Owls’ (our Forest School inspired sessions).
• Helping to maintain a stimulating, organised and safe classroom and learning environment.
• Supporting pupils in developing independence, confidence and positive learning behaviours.
• Observing and supporting pupils’ development and providing feedback to the class teacher where appropriate.

Supporting the class teacher:

• Checking children’s reading diaries on a daily basis, alerting the class teacher to anything which needs attention.
• Taking an active role in organising the phonics reading books which children take home and preparing books for children to take home. 
• Assisting with classroom administration tasks such as labelling, preparing materials and organising resources.
• Liaising regularly with the class teacher regarding pupil progress and classroom activities.
• Assisting with the preparation and display of pupils’ work and learning areas.
• Supporting the organisation of the classroom and outdoor learning provision.
• Helping staff and pupils on school trips, outings and at school events, some of which may occasionally take place in the evenings.
• Supporting Reception pupils more generally, including with organisation, independence and pastoral care.
• Assisting with the delivery and supervision of after-school club activities (within working hours, finishing at 4:30pm).
• Assisting with our 4+ admissions process, as directed by the Head of Pre-Prep.
• Any other tasks as may reasonably be required by the Head of Pre-Prep or Deputy Master (Lower School).

Playground supervision: 

• Supervising pupils according to school policies and procedures, including playground and lunchtime supervision and during school break times.
• Supporting pupils in developing positive social interactions during play, using restorative justice techniques with children to help resolve conflicts. 
• Liaising with the Day Matron and First Aiders to support any first aid and minor medical needs as necessary.

Holidays

This is a term-time only post (including INSET days) and holidays are therefore taken during the School’s main holiday periods.

Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and Child Protection
Westminster Under School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Working at Westminster Under School

Westminster Under School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of around 292 pupils, 43 teaching staff and 50 support staff.

Westminster Under School is a friendly and welcoming place to work. There is a real sense of community here and staff members quickly become part of the rhythm of life, both inside and outside the classroom. Social events are regular and varied, with plenty of opportunity to socialise outside working hours. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School’s day-to-day activities, whether that be attending a concert or a sports fixture.

At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply.

As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here.

Westminster Under School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The School

Westminster Under School is a happy, ambitious, nurturing and inspiring world-class preparatory education for seven to 13 year olds. Pupils who love to learn are offered a supportive, dynamic and inspirational environment to fuel their curiosity. 

Located in the heart of London, the School overlooks the beautiful school playing fields in Vincent Square and is just a few moments’ walk from Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. It is closely connected to Westminster School; in 1943, Westminster expanded its educational scope by forming the Under School, and the two schools share the same Governing Body and the same ethos of a liberal education. 

Westminster Under School's curriculum is broad and diverse, aiming to foster a sense of wonder and inquisitiveness in children and encourage independent thought. The teaching programme goes above and beyond the National Curriculum and teachers are not tightly bound by syllabus. Pupils are taught a wide range of subjects by expert teachers who embrace opportunities for growth and promote diverse thinking, and who encourage them to ask questions about the world around them. 

While the School's standard of our education is of the highest quality, the School’s focus is not only on academic achievement. Westminster pupils receive a full and rounded education that includes sport, the arts and many opportunities to engage in community outreach; pupils frequently take part in concerts, plays and in both internal and external competitions, and the School hosts festivals and events throughout the year. Like its older counterpart, Westminster Under School is fully committed to each pupil’s spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development and wellbeing – with a particular emphasis on drawing out individual talent wherever it lies – and to prepare young people for fulfilled private and public lives.

From September 2026, Westminster Under School will have opened its brand new pre-prep for girls and boys at 4+ and girls will have joined boys in Years 3 and 7, at the 7+ and 11+ entry points. By 2030, with the introduction of girls into Year 9 at Westminster School in 2028, all year groups across the two schools, from ages four to 18, will be fully co-educational, reflecting the School’s dedication to inclusivity and excellence.