Community Teaching Assistant

Classroom Recruiters; Swadlincote; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Classroom Recruiters seeks a Community Teaching Assistant to support children and young people across Swadlincote and surrounding areas. You will work beyond the traditional classroom in community spaces, hubs and homes to help learners re-engage with education.

Ideal candidates will have experience with SEMH needs, strong communication, and the ability to travel between settings. This full-time, fixed-term role starts immediately and offers varied responsibilities and meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people in schools, alternative provisions, youth work or community settings.
• Knowledge of SEMH, trauma and emotional regulation strategies.
• Willingness to travel between settings and homes as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored 1:1 and small-group support for pupils with SEMH and behavioural needs.
• Travel between schools, alternative provision sites, learning hubs, community venues and homes as required.
• Support pupils with literacy, numeracy and functional learning activities.
• Help develop confidence, resilience, independence and emotional regulation.
• Build positive relationships with pupils and professionals to support transitions.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and record progress and concerns accurately.

Skills

Communication

Behaviour management

Relationship building

Teamwork

Education

Teaching Assistant qualification

Experience in SEMH settings

Job description

Supporting Young People Beyond the Classroom

Looking for a role that is varied, rewarding and gives you the chance to make a genuine difference every day?

We are looking for confident, resilient and enthusiastic Community Teaching Assistants to support children and young people across Swadlincote and the surrounding areas.

This is not a typical classroom-based role. You will work with pupils in a range of settings, including alternative provision sites, small learning hubs, community spaces and, where appropriate, within the young person's home. Your role will be to help pupils re-engage with education, manage their emotions, build confidence and believe in what they can achieve.

Pay: £100-£110 per day

Contract: Full-time, fixed-term, 39 weeks per year

Start date: Immediate starts available - Contracts available

Location: Swadlincote and surrounding areas

Positions: Multiple opportunities available

About the role

As a Community Teaching Assistant, you will support children and young people who may have found mainstream education difficult. Some pupils may have experienced exclusion, poor attendance, disrupted education, challenging family circumstances or difficulties managing their behaviour and emotions.

Many of the young people you will support will have Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. They may struggle with anxiety, confidence, emotional regulation, social interaction, impulsive behaviour or trusting adults. Others may have gaps in learning because they have spent time out of school or have found it difficult to engage in a traditional classroom environment.

Your job is to become a calm, consistent and encouraging adult in their day. You will help create positive learning experiences, build strong relationships and support pupils to take small but important steps forward.

This could mean helping a pupil complete a piece of work they have been avoiding, supporting them to attend a community-based activity, using sport or outdoor learning to build engagement, or helping them regulate after a difficult moment.

Building confidence through education

A major part of this role is helping pupils rebuild their confidence in themselves and in learning.

Many young people in alternative provision have had negative experiences in education. They may believe they are “not good at school,” feel behind their peers or worry about getting things wrong. You will help change that mindset by recognising progress, celebrating effort and adapting learning so that it feels achievable.

You will support pupils to:

• Re-engage with learning at a pace that works for them
• Build confidence in reading, writing, maths and practical activities
• Develop positive routines around attendance, learning and behaviour
• Improve communication, teamwork and social skills
• Manage anxiety, frustration and difficult emotions more positively
• Take part in sports, outdoor learning and enrichment activities
• Set personal goals and recognise their own progress
• Prepare for a return to mainstream education, further education, training or employment

The role is ideal for someone who understands that progress does not always happen through worksheets alone. Sometimes progress starts with a walk, a kickabout, a conversation, a practical task or simply having an adult who does not give up on them.

Your responsibilities

As a Community Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide tailored 1:1 and small-group support for pupils with SEMH and behavioural needs
• Travel between schools, alternative provision settings, learning hubs, community venues and pupils' homes where required
• Support pupils with academic work, including literacy, numeracy and functional learning activities
• Help young people develop confidence, resilience, independence and emotional regulation
• Build positive professional relationships with pupils who may initially struggle to trust adults
• Use trauma-informed, restorative and de-escalation approaches to manage behaviour positively
• Support pupils through transitions, social situations and emotionally challenging parts of the day
• Encourage engagement through sports, outdoor learning, creative activities and practical tasks
• Model positive behaviour, respectful communication and healthy boundaries
• Work closely with teachers, senior leaders, families and external professionals
• Follow personalised learning plans, behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures
• Record progress, concerns and key information accurately and professionally
• Promote attendance, participation and positive choices at every opportunity

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who is practical, adaptable and able to connect with young people from different backgrounds.

You do not need to be a qualified teacher, but you must be confident supporting learning, managing behaviour and working independently across different settings.

You will ideally have:

• Experience supporting children or young people in a school, alternative provision, youth work, mentoring, care or community setting
• A calm and confident approach to challenging behaviour
• The ability to build trust while maintaining clear professional boundaries
• Good communication skills with pupils, parents, colleagues and professionals
• An understanding of SEMH, trauma, anxiety and emotional regulation
• A positive, patient and non-judgemental attitude
• A genuine interest in helping young people build confidence and achieve their potential
• The flexibility to work across different environments during the school day
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, as travel between settings will be required

Experience and qualifications

The following would be beneficial, but are not essential for the right candidate:

• Teaching Assistant qualification, or relevant classroom experience
• Experience within alternative provision, SEMH education, youth work or pastoral support
• Behaviour management, Team Teach, MAPA, PRICE or de-escalation training
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and restorative approaches
• First Aid qualification
• Experience leading sports, outdoor learning, creative activities or practical enrichment sessions
• The ability to support pupils with literacy, numeracy and basic functional skills

Why join this role?

This is a role for someone who wants to see the direct impact of their work. You will not simply be supporting lessons; you will be helping young people see that they are capable of more than they may currently believe.

In return, you will receive:

• A highly varied role where no two days are the same
• The opportunity to work beyond a traditional classroom environment
• The chance to use sport, outdoor learning and practical activities to motivate pupils
• Ongoing support, training and professional development opportunities
• A supportive team focused on helping young people achieve positive outcomes
• The satisfaction of helping pupils rebuild confidence, resilience and hope for the future

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people is central to this role. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide suitable references. You will be expected to follow safeguarding procedures at all times and report concerns promptly and professionally.