Higher Level Teaching Assistant - EYFS

Job description

Job title and organisation: Higher Level Teaching Assistant, EYFS - Poplars Farm Primary School
Salary: Band 8, SCP 17 £31,022 TO SCP 22 £33,699 (FTE) - dependant on experience
Hours: 31 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Poplars Farm Primary School
Closing Date and Time: Thursday 17th September 2026 at 12 noon

Starting date: November 2026

Could you help our youngest children GROW?

At Poplars Farm Primary School, we believe children learn best when they are curious, confident, connected and actively involved in their learning.

We are looking for an exceptional HLTA to join our EYFS team - someone who understands that great early education is about much more than completing activities. We want someone who notices the questions children ask, values their ideas and knows how to turn curiosity into powerful learning.

Our approach brings together the EYFS, Reggio Emilia-inspired practice and New Pedagogies for Deep Learning (NPDL) within our own distinctive Poplars Curriculum.

We see children as capable, creative and curious learners. Our environments matter. Relationships matter. Pupil voice matters. Play, exploration, talk, collaboration and first-hand experiences matter.

Through NPDL, we deliberately nurture the 6Cs - Character, Citizenship, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical Thinking - helping children become increasingly confident, independent and thoughtful learners.

And everything we do is underpinned by our GROW values: Giving • Responsible • Open-minded • Welcoming

We are looking for someone who...

• understands how young children learn and develop;
• can make learning exciting, purposeful and memorable;
• values play, enquiry, creativity and exploration;
• enjoys listening to children and following their thinking;
• can create inviting environments that provoke curiosity;
• believes in high expectations alongside nurture, inclusion and belonging;
• can support and lead learning confidently across EYFS;
• understands the importance of communication, language, early reading and phonics;
• builds warm, respectful relationships with children, families and colleagues;
• is reflective, enthusiastic and keen to keep learning.

Why Poplars Farm?

We are proud to be a school with a strong identity and an outward-looking perspective.

Our curriculum connects children with people, places, ideas and the wider world. We value creativity, global learning, deep thinking and authentic experiences alongside strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics.

We are also a deeply relational and inclusive school. We want every child - and every adult - to feel that they belong, that their contribution matters and that they have the opportunity to grow.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to become part of a team that is continuing to develop an ambitious and distinctive approach to early learning.

If you believe children should have opportunities to wonder, explore, question, create, collaborate and discover - we would love to hear from you.

Please contact the school office to make an appointment [email protected]

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs Tracey Simpson, School Business Manager at [email protected]

To apply, go to Job | Prospects | PACT HR

Closing Date: 12 Noon, Thursday 17 September 2026

Shortlisting: Friday 18 September 2026

Interview: Friday 25 September 2026

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children, and expects our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts are subject to references and DBS checks.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
#EXT #LI-DNI