Teaching Assistant- Bridgwater

Willow Vale School; Taunton; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction programme

Professional development & leadership

Welcoming staff team

Wellbeing support services

Occupational Health provision

Job summary

Willow Vale School in Bridgwater area invites applications for permanent Teaching Assistants to join our dedicated team. The role is 30 hours per week across 39 weeks per year, Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm, term time plus INSET days.

The salary is Grade 14, £17,486-£18,044 actual annual gross, depending on experience. We support children with diverse needs through personalised education and a strong wellbeing focus.

Qualifications

• Understanding of how children and young people learn.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to build positive relationships with students, staff and families.
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills.

Responsibilities

• Support teaching and learning teams and welfare team.
• Provide 1:1 and small-group support for students with complex needs.
• May accompany students off-site to support educational or welfare programs.
• Liaise with parents and carers as needed.
• Demonstrate problem-solving, empathy and resilience in daily duties.

Skills

Empathy

Resilience

Communication

Literacy

Numeracy

ICT skills

Job description

Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint permanent Teaching Assistants on a permanent contract to work within our school in the Bridgwater area

30 hours per week, 39 Weeks per year. (Term time plus INSET days). Monday to Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm

Grade 14 £17,486-£18,044 Actual annual gross salary. Dependent on experience

Willow Vale School is a newly established and forward‑thinking provision created from the former Bridge School, Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane Partnership College (TDPC). Spread across six specialist sites in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas, we provide flexible, personalised education for children and young people with a wide range of needs. Our work is guided by three core values that shape everything we do: Be Safe. Be Kind. Belong. These values underpin our culture and ensure every learner feels supported, respected and part of a community where they can thrive.

Students join Willow Vale through several pathways. Our main remit is to work with and support young people who are not able to access mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the route, our aim is to provide high‑quality, highly personalised programmes that rebuild confidence, re‑engage learners and prepare them for their next steps.

We are looking for teaching assistants to support both our teaching & learning team and our welfare team.

The post-holder will need to be able to problem solve, show empathy and resilience and be able to support children and young people with complex needs. They may be required to support with behaviours which challenge, liaise with parents and carers and work 1:1 and with small groups of students.

You may be required to take students off-site and into the community to support them with their educational or welfare program.

You will be expected to demonstrate:

• An understanding of how children and young people learn
• Excellent communication skills
• An ability to build positive relationships with students, staff and families
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills

What We Offer

• A full and supportive induction programme
• Ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities
• A collaborative and welcoming staff team
• A strong commitment to wellbeing, including access to support services
• Occupational Health provision

Willow Vale School works as a part of a wider team within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.

Willow Vale School Sedgemoor is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This appointment will be subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, medical clearance, proof of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory references.

Following the acceptance of your interview, an online check will be carried out as detailed in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines