Teaching Assistant

Two Bridges Academy; Bristol; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading special school in Bristol is seeking a compassionate and skilled Teaching Assistant dedicated to nurturing students with complex learning needs. This full-time role involves providing tailored educational support, fostering social skills, and creating a safe, engaging learning environment. Ideal candidates will have a genuine passion for making a difference in students' lives.

Benefits

Generous sick pay

Pension scheme

Comprehensive induction and training

Professional development opportunities

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Practical experience with children or young people, especially those with additional needs.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils in their learning journey, helping them access learning in unique ways.
• Deliver personalized learning and help develop emotional and social skills.
• Collaborate with educators and other team members to meet pupils' needs.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Patience

Compassion

Creativity

Education

Experience working with children

Job description

£31,586 - £34,314 per annum full time equivalent - Actual salary £23,863 - £25,925 per annum for 32.5 hours per week, term time only plus 6 Inset days. Plus, generous sick pay and pension scheme. Fixed Term Contract.

Inspire – Nurture - Thrive

About Us:

Culverhill is a special school that provides a high quality and holistic education for 145 pupils with complex learning difficulties aged 7-16. We aim to equip our children and young people for healthy, happy, fulfilling, independent lives and give them the skills to gain meaningful work as they become young adults.

We’re looking for Teaching Assistants who are kind, patient, can problem-solve and those who are ready to make a lasting impact. This isn’t your ordinary job…You’ll be making a real difference, one smile at a time. If you’re looking for a role that challenges, rewards, and fills you with purpose in a world where every day is unique and every moment counts, this could be the role for you!

Role Overview:

As a Teaching Assistant, you will be a key figure in the lives of our incredible pupils, supporting them in their learning journey and helping them achieve milestones they might have never thought possible. From helping them develop social and communication skills to providing personal care and assistance, you’ll have a front-row seat to some of the most rewarding moments imaginable.

You’ll be a key part of the classroom team, and a calming presence in moments of emotional turbulence (because let’s face it, the classroom can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster!). You’ll be the glue that holds everything together, the calm in the storm, the person who can help our pupils navigate their school day.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be the person pupils need in the classroom, helping them access learning in their own unique way

• Help deliver personalised learning that makes sense for each pupil - because no two pupils are the same (and that’s where the fun begins!).

• Play an active role in the development of pupils’ emotional, social, and physical skills, empowering them to grow in confidence and independence.

• Build trust and create a safe, supportive environment where pupils feel confident to explore, learn, and grow.

• Use your organisational skills to manage the day-to-day needs of pupils and keep things running smoothly.

• You’ll be there for those breakthrough moments when pupils achieve something they’ve been working toward - no matter how big or small. Every win is a win!

• You’ll collaborate with teachers, learning support assistants and other amazing team members to ensure every pupil’s needs are met with care and creativity.

• Provide support where needed with dignity and compassion (don’t worry, we’ll give you the tools and training to feel confident).

• Bring the fun whether it’s through sensory activities, play, or music, you’ll help bring the joy and make each day feel like an adventure.

What we’re looking for:

• You need to be patient, compassionate, kind-hearted, open-minded, and creative, because every student is unique and so are the ways you’ll help them learn whilst ensuring every pupil feels like they belong.

• Practical experience of working with children or young people. If you’ve worked with kids who have additional needs or disabilities, you’re basically our superhero in disguise.

• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

• You’ll be adaptable, and have the ability to work flexibly with all ages and a range of needs (with full training), understanding that no two days are the same

• Reliability, great organisational skills, and the ability to juggle. Not just balls or flaming torches (unless you’re into that!), but multiple tasks at once with the kind of grace only a true multitasker has.

• The ability to stay calm and collected in high-pressure situations - some days can be challenging but you can bounce back when things are tricky.

• A genuine passion for supporting children and young adults with complex learning needs and the patience of a saint (or at least the patience of someone who’s had their fair share of ‘fascinating’ classroom moments!).

• The chance to make a huge difference in the lives of young people, one small victory at a time.

• It’s a job with heart - We’re not just about education in our small classes, we’re about building confidence, spreading joy, and creating meaningful connections that will stay with you for life.

• We’re an amazing team who are all in it together and we’ve got your back during the good, the bad, and the “Did that really just happen?” moments.

• We provide a free Employee Assistance Programme

• Comprehensive support, induction and training package; as well as professional development opportunities because we’re all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!

Every day is a new chapter, you’ll get to see the difference you make in real-time, and trust us, the rewards will be beyond what you expect. Become part of the next stage of our journey, by contacting Enable Trust.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

Safeguarding Statement:

Enable Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. Short-listed applicants will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children and young people. We will carry out online searches on all short-listed applicants, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, Part 3, Safer Recruitment. Where given permission to do so, references will be requested for short-listed candidates prior to interview. Candidates attending an interview should expect the interview panel to explore issues relating to safeguarding. All successful applicants will be required to undergo security and vetting checks appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS check. Applicants must be aware that it is an offence to apply for a role if barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children and young people.

Equality information:

We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.