Relief General Teaching Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; Knaresborough; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

The Forest School in the United Kingdom is seeking a casual, term-time relief General Teaching Assistant to support pupils with diverse needs and ensure their development, welfare and learning are supported throughout the day.

This role focuses on assisting pupils with differentiated activities, maintaining a positive classroom environment and collaborating with teaching staff. No visa sponsorship is available; prior SEND experience is an advantage but not required.

Qualifications

• Enhanced DBS check
• Overseas criminal records check if lived or worked overseas in the last five years

Responsibilities

• Support pupils' learning and development in class
• Support pupils' differentiated learning activities
• Support pupils' personal, medical and emotional wellbeing
• Cover for absent regular staff, supporting teachers and pupils
• Help create a positive, engaging learning environment

Skills

Child development awareness

Excellent communication

Reading/writing/numeracy/ICT

Emotional resilience

Job description

This relief General Teaching Assistant post covers classrooms at The Forest School, a special school for pupils aged 3 to 16 with complex special educational needs. It is casual, term-time-only cover, filled when regular staff are absent. The work centres on supporting pupils' differentiated learning and their personal, medical and emotional wellbeing, which is physically demanding. Days can be chosen around other commitments. Visa sponsorship is not available, and specialist training is provided, so SEND experience is an advantage rather than a requirement.

What the job involves

• Support pupils' learning and development in class
• Support pupils' differentiated learning activities
• Support pupils' personal, medical and emotional wellbeing
• Cover for absent regular staff, supporting teachers and pupils
• Help create a positive, engaging learning environment

Experience

• Previous experience working with children and young people

Skills & knowledge

• Awareness of child development and the needs of children with learning, sensory or physical difficulties
• Excellent communication and teamworking skills
• Strong reading, writing, numeracy and ICT skills
• Emotional resilience with challenging or complex behaviour, and finding solutions under pressure

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Overseas criminal records check if lived or worked overseas in the last five years

Other

• Commitment to safeguarding, professional boundaries, equality and diversity

Nice to have

• Experience of working in a SEND setting

What’s offered

• Choice of working days around other commitments
• Term-time only, with weekends, bank holidays and school holidays off
• Working hours matching the school day, with flexible or reduced hours considered
• Specialist support and training provided
• Hands-on classroom experience for students and parents returning to work