Associate Teaching Assistant

The Bedford College Group; Dunstable; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

The Bedford College Group is seeking an Associate Teaching Assistant in Dunstable to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This role requires collaboration with teaching staff and effective communication with students to enhance their learning experience. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic about helping others, possess relevant qualifications, and demonstrate adaptability in a dynamic educational environment.

Benefits

27 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and maintain accurate records.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one or small group assistance to students with SEND.
• Work closely with teachers to implement strategies and promote student independence.
• Monitor and support progress toward EHCP outcomes.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Level 2 in English and Maths

Relevant Level 3 qualification or willingness to work towards it

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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Location: Central Bedfordshire College – Dunstable Kingsway Campus

Salary/Benefits: £12.21 per hour

Hours/Weeks: Hours 09.00 - 17.00 with flexibilities in days – September 2025 to June 2026

Contract Type: Sessional – Hourly Paid

About the role:

We are currently seeking an Associate Teaching Assistant to join our Additional Support department at The Bedford College Group.

This role is within the Additional Learning Support team that provides support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities undertaking courses across the college from level on to level three.

It is a vibrant team that works across all areas of the college to provide support to students in line with their individual support needs.

No two days are the same! One day you may be notetaking within a level three lesson, the next providing prompts and reassurance to a student within a practical.

The role provides variety and the opportunity to meet and work with a fantastic team who place students at the heart of all that they do. If you are interested in supporting students to gain the most from their college experience and wish to contribute to their development as individuals we would love to hear from you!

As a Teaching Assistant, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Targeted Student Support – Provide one-to-one or small group assistance to students with SEND across vocational and academic courses, following individual support plans to help them access learning effectively.
• Collaboration & Implementation – Work closely with class teachers and the Additional Learning Support Team Leader to implement strategies, prepare resources, and promote student independence
• Progress Monitoring & EHCPs – Track and support progress toward EHCP outcomes, maintain accurate records, and contribute to reports and annual reviews in collaboration with EHCP coordinators.
• Team Contribution & Mentoring – Actively participate in team meetings, mentor new staff, and support college events such as open days and transition activities.
• Safeguarding & Development – Uphold safeguarding, equality, and health and safety standards, while engaging in ongoing training and development to enhance support delivery.

About you:

• Qualifications & Knowledge – Educated to Level 2 in English and Maths, with a relevant Level 3 qualification or willingness to work towards it, and a solid understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• Experience & Technical Skills – Experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings, and confident in using Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Communication & Teamwork – Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work independently, maintain accurate records, and contribute positively to a collaborative team environment.
• Professionalism & Attitude – Demonstrates high performance, adaptability, and a positive approach, while promoting the College’s reputation and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Safeguarding & Flexibility – Committed to safeguarding children and young people, with a willingness to work across all college sites and continuously develop skills and knowledge.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 24 June 2025

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisationalVISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire:Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College andTreshamCollegein the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough;ShuttleworthCollege,a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for MotorsportalongsideSilverstonerace circuit.To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.

Terms and Conditions - BCPS

• 37 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• 27 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays