Teaching Assistant

Tor School; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 14,000; Part time

Job summary

Tor School in Yeovil is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support the hospital classroom or bedside learning for pupils aged roughly 5–16, with emphasis on social, emotional, medical, and mental health needs. The role is a fixed term maternity cover, part-time 22 hours per week during term time.

You will work closely with the hospital teacher to deliver learning programmes, promote wellbeing, and assist in safeguarding.

Qualifications

• Broad experience in curriculum support and engaging with pupils with social, emotional, medical and mental health needs.
• Experience in school or alternative settings preferred.
• Ability to work with pupils aged Year 5–11 (Age 5–16) in hospital or bedside settings.

Responsibilities

• Work with the hospital teacher to assist the learning of pupils.
• Promote independence, self-esteem and social inclusion.
• Support pupils individually or in groups to access curriculum and activities.
• Deliver tasks, clarify instructions and support learning.
• Support holistic learning and pupils' pastoral needs throughout the day.
• Mentor pupils and respond to safeguarding and wellbeing needs.
• Participate in meetings and maintain an organised learning environment.

Skills

Communication

Resilience

Engagement with EMH needs

Independent learning support

Job description

Teaching Assistant

Location: Yeovil District Hospital, Yeovil

Salary: Grade 14 (£12.824 actual pay per annum)

Vacancy Type: Fixed Term Contract, Maternity Cover until July 2027, Part Time (22 hours per week, term time only)

Start Date: As soon as possible

Closing Date: 12 noon on Friday 4th September 2026

Are you a good communicator, resilient and ready to work in a setting with some of the most interesting pupils the education system has to offer?

We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague to support the teacher working at Yeovil District Hospital. You should have broad experience in curriculum support, and particular skills in engaging with students who have social, emotional, medical, and mental health needs. This is an extremely varied role, and pupils may be any age from Year 5-11 (Age 5-16). This is a combination of either working in the hospital classroom or at the bedside, according to the pupil s medical needs.

You will:

• Be a reflective practitioner.
• Can be creative developing relevant educational programmes for our young people.
• Have excellent skills relevant to pupils on the continuum of social, mental, and emotional health needs.
• Be solution focused and positive in meeting the social and emotional needs of our young people and open to innovative ways of working.
• Have the ability, drive, and resilience to ensure the emotional health and wellbeing of young people.
• Contribute to effective self-evaluation.
• Preferably have successful experience in a school or working with pupils in an alternative setting.

We are keen to appoint the right person with the personal qualities that will make them a success at Tor. Skills can be developed, but the passion to work with young people and the personal attributes are fundamental.

Job Purpose:

To complement the work at Tor School through supporting pupils to engage in learning, ensuring safeguarding and promoting their physical and emotional wellbeing.

To assist the hospital teacher in the development and implementation of programmes of work and in the provision of a stable, caring and supportive learning environment, which enables pupils to achieve their full learning potential and facilitates their social and moral development.

This job description is not a complete list of tasks but rather provides an outline of the main responsibilities of the post.

Main duties and Core responsibilities:

Work with the hospital teacher to assist the learning of pupils

Promote the pupil s independence, self-esteem and social inclusion by working with pupils

Support the pupil, individually or in groups, so they can access the curriculum / provided activity, take part in learning and experience a sense of achievement

Be pupil focussed and work in a positive way that enables them to achieve

Support pupils 1:1 or in small groups, supporting / facilitating learning

Delivering, supporting and directing tasks, clarifying and explaining instructions.

Learning support

To support the holistic learning of individuals and groups of pupils

To support pupil s pastoral needs and give them the support they require throughout the day as required

To encourage, and find ways to engage, pupils in a positive activity

To act as a mentor and be an active listener should pupils need support in this way

Develop and apply knowledge and understanding of pupils general and specific learning needs to support their learning

Promote the development of key skills and independence

To have the inter-personal skills and effective communication skills to work in partnership with parents and medical professionals, including contributing to meetings

Ensuring pupils emotional well-being

Establish positive relationships with all pupils and promote the inclusion of all

Seek to ensure the promotion and reinforcement of pupils self-esteem

Seek to develop pupils respect for diversity and difference

Be committed to the safeguarding of pupils

Professional development

Participate in staff meetings and undertake professional development within contracted hours or outside normal hours by agreement

To undertake training as required for the role

Learning environment and administration

Take an active role in establishing and maintaining a tidy, well organised and positive learning environment

Prepare resources and display pupils work. Maintain files, photocopy and use ICT systems for administration and school communication purposes

Key Competencies

• Resilience as the environment can be challenging. Ability to remain calm and controlled as see behaviour as an unmet need.
• Emotional resilience and ability to manage potentially challenging and difficult contact with parents and young people
• Proven ability to demonstrate an understanding and practical application of diversity issues and how this is embedded in all working practices.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Competency in prioritising, problem-solving and creative thinking.

Tor School 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. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS and all relevant pre-employment checks, including social media screening