ELSA Teaching Assistant

E-ACT Venturers' Academy; West of England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Defined benefit pension (LGPS or TPS)

31 days annual leave

Cycle to Work

CPD opportunities

TLR progression

Job summary

Venturers Academy is seeking a compassionate and dedicated ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Teaching Assistant to join our nurturing team. You will support children to develop emotional literacy, resilience, and wellbeing, enabling them to overcome barriers to learning and thrive both socially and academically.

You will work with vulnerable pupils requiring additional emotional support in a safe and supportive environment, collaborating with the SENCo/ELSA Lead to plan targeted

Qualifications

• GCSEs (English and Maths) at Grade C/4 or above.
• Experience or training in working with children or young people in an education or care setting.
• A calm, patient and nurturing approach to supporting pupils’ emotional needs.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.

Responsibilities

• Deliver ELSA interventions to support pupils’ emotional literacy, wellbeing and social skills on a 1:1 and small group basis.
• Support pupils to develop emotional awareness, resilience and self-esteem.
• Help pupils to understand and regulate their emotions using structured ELSA strategies and resources.
• Create a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable to express their feelings.
• Work with the SENCo/ELSA Lead to identify pupils’ needs and plan targeted intervention programmes.

Skills

Calm, patient demeanor

Strong communication

Empathy for children

Team collaboration

Behaviour management

Education

GCSEs including English & Maths

Experience in education/care setting

Job description

Job Title: ELSA Teaching Assistant

Location: Venturers’ Academy, Bristol

E-ACT Venturers’ Academy | Where everything’s possible

We are proud to lead a school where every child is known, valued, and supported to thrive. Venturers Academy is a specialist academy for students with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), dedicated to providing an exceptional, nurturing environment where every learner can flourish.

Our approach is built on high aspirations, personalised support, and an unwavering belief in our students’ potential. We celebrate individuality, build confidence, and empower young people to achieve meaningful success, academically, socially, and emotionally.

Venturers Academy is based across three sites: our Secondary site at Hareclive Road, and two Primary sites at Withywood Road and St Anne’s Park. Each site is a place of opportunity, collaboration, and growth.

Whether you are an experienced educator or just beginning your journey in education, we offer a supportive, inclusive environment where your talents will be nurtured, your professional development encouraged, and your contributions truly valued.

At Venturers Academy, we do more than educate, we inspire, support, and enable every child, and every colleague, to reach their full potential.

About the role

Venturers’ Academy is seeking a compassionate and dedicated ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) Teaching Assistant to join our nurturing and specialist team. In this rewarding role, you will support children and young people to develop their emotional literacy, resilience and wellbeing, enabling them to overcome barriers to learning and thrive both socially and academically. Working closely with vulnerable pupils who require additional emotional support, you will play a key role in creating a safe, supportive environment where every learner feels understood, valued and empowered to succeed.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver ELSA interventions to support pupils’ emotional literacy, wellbeing and social skills on a 1:1 and small group basis
• Support pupils to develop emotional awareness, resilience and self-esteem
• Help pupils to understand and regulate their emotions using structured ELSA strategies and resources
• Create a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where pupils feel comfortable to express their feelings
• Work with the SENCo/ELSA Lead to identify pupils’ needs and plan targeted intervention programmes

Pay range

• NJC 8 - 13 - £23,592.34 - £25,562.47
• FTE - £26,824.00 - £29,064.00
• 37 hours per week, 39 weeks per year
• Permanent

Qualifications and Skills

• GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above
• Experience or training in working with children or young people in an education or care setting
• A calm, patient and nurturing approach to supporting pupils’ emotional needs
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written

What are we about?

Join a trust that is going places! At E-ACT, we believe every child deserves opportunity. Our ‘Opening Minds, Opening Doors’ strategy breaks down barriers and builds pathways to success; driven by purposeful leadership, collaboration, and innovation. We champion diversity, encourage a people-first culture, and ensure every voice is heard.

We are proud to lead system-wide change both locally and national - providing sector-wide support while transforming futures. Our achievements are recognised through winning MAT of the Year 2023 at the MAT Excellence Awards and National School Awards, and also the TES Trust Leadership Award 2024. E-ACT is recognised for shaping bold educational outcomes. Most recently, two of our Birmingham academies were selected by the Department for Education as RISE Regional Hubs, in recognition of their outstanding work on inclusion and behaviour, a testament to the impact of our people-first culture and relentless drive for excellence.

With 37 academies and over 25,000 pupils, our dedicated staff make excellence possible. We prioritise wellbeing, tackle workload, and continuously raise the bar. We don’t just educate, we inspire ambition and empower every child to thrive.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more at www.e-act.org.uk

Benefits

Financial and Lifestyle

We offer a strong financial package including access to defined benefit pension schemes (LGPS or TPS), life cover at three times pensionable pay, and 31 days of annual leave for year-round employees. Staff can also benefit from the Cycle to Work scheme, promoting healthy and sustainable commuting.

Professional Growth and Development

We invest heavily in staff development through tailored INSET days and high-quality CPD opportunities. Teaching staff benefit from automatic TLR progression, a structured 9-point pay scale (M1 to UPS3), and full TLR payments for part-time colleagues fulfilling full responsibilities.

Culture and Wellbeing

Our people-first culture values every colleague. We support wellbeing through the Wisdom app and a free Employee Assistance Programme offering counselling and financial advice. Collaboration is at the heart of our Trust, encouraging shared learning and collective success.

Please look at our ’Work for Us’ page and Recruitment Pack for more information.

E-ACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

E-ACT is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.