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Pre-Prep magnet play

We have a new opportunity at our leading co-educational preparatory school. We are recruiting for a:

One-to-one Teaching Assistant

Salary: £20,136 per annum based on 37.5 hours per week 8am – 4pm Monday – Friday during term time.

This is a full time, term time position, however applications for fewer full days each week may be considered on the basis the role could be covered by 2 individuals.

Application Deadline: 5pm, Sunday 17 May 2026

Interviews: Thursday 21 May 2026


The Downs Preparatory School is a successful, independent day school for pupils aged four to 13 years. Situated five miles from Bristol, Clevedon and Portishead, the school and its thriving nursery are set within 60 acres of glorious parkland.

We offer a stunning setting, excellent facilities and a talented team of supportive colleagues. We strive to employ outstanding, educational practitioners as ultimately they determine the success of the children and the school in the future.

We require a caring individual who will provide excellent modelling, encouragement and nurture. Experience of working with a child on a 1:1 basis is desirable.


The Downs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media account names/handles, as part of their application. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children."


One-to-one Teaching Assistant Job Description & Person Specification

One-to-one Teaching Assistant

Support Staff Application form

If you'd prefer to download and complete the application in your own time - here are the necessary downloads. Please then submit the form via the contact form below.

Application Form - Support Staff

Application Form - Support Staff - Word doc

Apply Now

You can complete the digital form below and submit to complete your application.

Page 1

Thank you for taking the time to apply for a role at The Downs. Please note, all information you share in this form will be treated confidentially.

The School is legally required to carry out a number of pre-appointment checks which are detailed in the School's Recruitment, selection and disclosure policy and procedure.

The information you are being asked to provide in this form is required so that the School can comply with those legal obligations should your application be successful. The School does not use AI in its recruitment process.

Applicant Information

Name
Address:
Are you eligible for employment in the UK? 
UK Passport Holder 
UK or Irish birth certificate 
If you do not use social media and therefore do not have a 'live' account, please tick here
Do you have Qualified Teacher status?
Please tick the box to confirm you have read the School's child protection policy 
Page 2

Section 2: Sanctions, restrictions and prohibitions

Have you or are you the subject of a sanction, restriction or prohibition issued by, the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)? 

Please note. The TRA was previously known as the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL), this includes with any equivalent body in the UK or a regulator of the teaching profession in any other country

Have you been referred to the Department for Education, or are you the subject of a direction under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008?  

This prohibits, disqualifies or restricts you from being involved in the management of an independent school

Have you ever been the subject of a direction under section 142 of the Education Act 2002? 
Page 3

Section 3: Education

Education 
Name of school/ college/ universityFrom:To:SubjectResultAwarding body

Section 4: Other vocational qualifications, skills or training

Page 4

Section 5: Current (or most recent) employment

Current/ most recent employer's address:
Page 5

Section 6: Previous employment and/ or activities since leaving secondary education

Employment history 
From:To:Name of employerPosition heldReason for leaving

If there are any gaps in your employment history, eg looking after children, sabbatical year, please give details and dates.

Page 6

Section 7: Interests and Suitability for the role

Please give details of your interests, hobbies or skills - in particular any which could be of benefit to the School for the purposes of enriching its extra curricular activity.

Please give your reasons for applying for this post and say why you believe you are suitable for the position.

Page 7

Section 8: Criminal record

The School applies for an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), including a Children’s Barred List check for all positions at the School which amount to regulated activity. It is unlawful for the School to employ anyone who is barred from working with children. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to attempt to apply for a position at the School. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application on line. Employment with the School is conditional upon the School being satisfied with the result of the Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or code of practice published by the DBS.

The School is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered "spent" under the Act) must be declared. You are not required to disclose a caution or conviction for an offence committed in the United Kingdom if it has been filtered in accordance with the DBS filtering rules:

Click here to see Appendix 1

If you have a criminal record this will not automatically debar you from employment. Instead, each case will be assessed fairly by reference to the School's objective assessment procedure set out in the School’s recruitment, selection and disclosure policy and procedure.

It is a condition of your application that you answer the questions below. Before doing so please read Appendix 1.

Have you been cautioned, subject to a court order, bound over, received a reprimand or warning or been found guilty of committing any criminal offence whether in the United Kingdom or in another country?

You are not required to disclose a caution or conviction for an offence committed in the United Kingdom which is subject to the DBS filtering rules (see Appendix 1).

Is there any relevant court action pending against you?
Page 8

Section 9: References

Please supply the names and contact details of two people who we may contact for references. One of these must be your current or most recent employer. If your current/most recent employment does/did not involve work with children, then your second referee should be from your employer with whom you most recently worked with children. Neither referee should be a relative or someone known to you solely as a friend. The School intends to take up references from all shortlisted candidates before interview. The School reserves the right to take up references from any previous employer.

If the School receives a factual reference ie. One which contains only limited information about you, additional references may be sought.

If you have previously worked overseas the School may take up references from your overseas employer.

The School may also telephone your referees in order to verify the reference they have provided.

References 
Name:Job Title:Organisation:Email addressTelephone No.May we contact this person prior to interview?
Page 9

Section 10: Declaration

I confirm that the information I have given on this application form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
I confirm that I am not named on the Children's Barred List or otherwise disqualified from working with children.
I understand that providing false information is an offence which could result in my application being rejected or (if the false information comes to light after my appointment) summary dismissal and may amount to a criminal offence.
I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge, I am not disqualified from working in early years provision or later years provision with children under the age of eight.
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Where this form is submitted electronically and without signature, electronic receipt of this form by the School will be deemed equivalent to submission of a signed version and will constitute confirmation of the declaration at Section 10.

Submit your application

Please complete the form below if you'd like to submit your application for this role. Please attach the completed form as a PDF and detail the job role within the form. A member of our team will be in touch.

Name