Teaching Assistant (12 Month Fixed Term)

Compass Community; Swindon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational organization in Swindon is seeking Teaching Assistants to support children with social, emotional, and mental health needs. The role involves working closely with a small number of students and providing personalized support through various activities. Candidates should possess resilience, flexibility, and effective communication skills. The position offers competitive salary, extensive training opportunities, and a commitment to safeguarding children. Join a supportive team dedicated to making a difference in children's lives.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Extensive training opportunities

Enhanced occupational sickness scheme

Flexible pension

Employee benefit services

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively and adapt to children's needs.
• Willingness to undergo therapeutic training and support.

Responsibilities

• Support teachers in the classroom and work with children individually.
• Manage classroom resources and participate in therapy sessions.
• Ensure children's safety and engage them in social activities.

Skills

Resilience

Flexibility

Communication

Solution focussed

Job description

Closing date: 09/01/26 Interview date: W/C 12/01/26

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and transform the life of a child?

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other and fixing what needs fixing, together.

This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it.

We are a small setting with a maximum number of 12 students which means that class sizes are small, enabling you to personalise learning. We are a supportive team and are seeking a colleague who shares the same vision and ethos as we do. Our students are very special to us and whilst they may arrive with learning barriers we promote a 'can't do yet' mantra. If you would like to come and visit us then please do get in touch.

Our children come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all have Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH). Many will also have other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) such as Autism, ADHD, and communication difficulties.

The work we do is both varied and challenging and, as a trauma and attachment informed organisation, all staff are provided with extensive therapeutic training and support.

Our closely triangulated approach places the child at the centre of decision making, ensuring that education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams and, most importantly, our students can work together to secure outstanding outcomes for all.

The Role

TAs at our school know that no two days are the same and that no two children are the same either. Our children require very special adults who can support children with complex and challenging behaviours. They will know that our children require lots of attention, just the right sort of communication, consistency and flexibility in equal measure, and a non-judgemental approach. They need to be resilient, persistent and solution focussed to meet the needs of our children and to do so they need to wear a lot of hats and be prepared to change them at a moment’s notice!

Our Teaching Assistants may be

• supporting teachers in the classroom
• working with children 1:1 or delivering sessions with small groups of students
• managing classroom resources
• taking children on trips and visits
• having their lunch with children who struggle socially
• managing heightened behaviours and keeping children safe
• playing board games
• conducting science experiments
• making amazing displays
• celebrating success
• part of therapy sessions or reflecting on difficult periods

We want our TAs to be part of the decision making that drives our school, provides outcomes for children and advocates for every child. We welcome their input in developing both the academic curriculum and the opportunities in our extra-curricular offer – bringing their own interests and passions to the table.

Benefits And Rewards

• Competitive salary
• Extensive training and professional qualification opportunities
• Small class sizes with specialist TA support
• The chance to be part of an expanding, national organisation that recognises skill, effort and potential and grows its own leadership teams
• Enhanced occupational sickness scheme
• Flexible pension
• Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision
• Employee benefit service with access to wellbeing services, salary sacrifice schemes, high street vouchers, money off eating-out and takeaways

We regularly review applications and reserve the right to close an advert early if we identify suitable candidates.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools are highly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (previously the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks on social media use.

All school-based staff have the responsibility for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. All school staff should be aware of the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and work in accordance with this document at all times.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to grow, we know that we must have the most talented employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to support our children and young people.