Teaching Assistant

Bedford ESOL; Old Warden; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. This position requires a dedication to enhancing the student experience and offers opportunities for professional development within a vibrant team environment.

Benefits

People’s pension

Retail and Leisure Discounts

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Educated to Level 2 in English and Maths.
• Relevant Level 3 qualification or willingness to work towards it.
• Experience supporting students with SEND.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one support for students with SEND.
• Collaborate with teachers to implement individual support plans.
• Monitor student progress and maintain records.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Education

Level 3 qualification

Level 2 in English and Maths

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Role: Teaching Assistant

Location: Shuttleworth College – Old Warden

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £23,557 and £25,849 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week over 37 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Term Time

About the role:

We are currently seeking a 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!

This role is 37 hours per week over 37 weeks per year.

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

• Student Support & Inclusion – Provide one-to-one and small group support for students with SEND across vocational and academic courses, promoting access to learning and independence.
• Collaboration & Implementation – Work under the guidance of the ALS Team Leader and class teachers to deliver support aligned with individual support plans and EHCP outcomes.
• Resource & Progress Management – Prepare and update learning resources, monitor student progress, and maintain accurate records and reports to support learning and development.
• Team Contribution & Mentoring – Actively participate in team meetings, mentor new staff, and contribute to departmental success through collaboration and shared best practices.
• Safeguarding & Professional Standards – Uphold responsibilities in safeguarding, equality, health and safety, and engage in ongoing training and development to support student welfare and success.

About you:

• Essential Qualifications & Knowledge – Educated to Level 2 in English and Maths, with a relevant Level 3 qualification (or willingness to work towards) and a sound understanding of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
• Experience & Technical Skills – Proven experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings, and confident use of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.
• Student Support & Communication – Strong ability to contribute to a high-quality, inclusive learning environment, with excellent communication skills across face-to-face, written, and telephone interactions.
• Professionalism & Teamwork – Demonstrates initiative, accurate record-keeping, and a positive, adaptable attitude; values teamwork and respects the contributions of colleagues.
• Safeguarding & Flexibility – Committed to safeguarding responsibilities, maintaining appropriate boundaries with young people, and willing to work across all College sites as needed.

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: 09 July 2025

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION 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.