Teaching Assistant - Cover Support Team, West Berkshire - Tes Jobs

Castle School; England; Remote; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Castle School is seeking three Teaching Assistants to support pupils across the school. You’ll cover classes when needed, deliver targeted interventions and help maintain routines for pupils with diverse needs. A Level 3 qualification and at least three years in a school setting are required, with SEND experience considered a bonus. DBS checks apply.

Work is 34.5 hours per week, with hours 08:30–16:30 Mon–Tue and 08:30–15:30 Wed–Fri. Closing date 8 November 2026; interviews 16 November 2026.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification required.
• Three years’ experience in a school setting.
• Experience with pupils with SEND would be a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Provide cover supervision when a teacher and TA are absent.
• Deliver targeted interventions to pupils who need it most.
• Support pupils across the whole school with different needs and routines.

Skills

Adaptability

Rapport building

Calm under pressure

Education

Level 3 qualification

Job description

Every day is different. Every day matters.

Some people thrive on routine. Others light up when they walk through the door not knowing exactly what the day holds and then make it brilliant anyway. If that’s you, we’d love to meet you.

We’re launching something new at The Castle School: a team of three exceptional Teaching Assistants who will work right across our school, stepping in wherever they’re needed most. When a colleague is absent, our team make sure our pupils don’t miss a beat. Routines stay steady, learning carries on, and every child still has a familiar, reassuring adult by their side.

What you'll be doing

You’ll start each day ready to go wherever you’re needed, sometimes in one class all day, sometimes in two or three. You’ll get to know pupils across the whole school and a wide range of needs, picking up class routines and individual support plans quickly and confidently. When both a teacher and their TA are away, you’ll step up to provide cover supervision, guiding the class through the work their teacher has set. And on days when everyone’s in, you’ll use your skills to deliver targeted interventions and support the pupils who need it most.

Who we're looking for

You’re adaptable, unflappable and genuinely love working with children. You build rapport quickly, you’re calm when plans change at 8:30am, and you can walk into an unfamiliar room and simply get on with it. You’ll hold (or be working towards) a Level 3 qualification and bring at least three years’ experience in a school setting. Experience across different age groups or with pupils with SEND would be a real bonus.

What you'll get from us

You’ll be part of a close, supportive team with a genuinely whole-school view, working with more pupils and colleagues than almost anyone else in the building. It’s a fantastic role for building a broad range of experience, and you’ll never be bored.

Working hours

34.5 hours per week. Working 0830 - 1630 Monday and Tuesday and 0830 - 1530 on Wednesday to Friday.

Closing date: 8th November 2026 Interviews: 16th November 2026

The Castle School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment and is in line with guidance in KCSIE. All shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal records self-disclosure form. Successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant checks including online searches to help to identify any incidents and/or issues which may be relevant to your suitability for the role, which the school may want to explore further with you.