Teaching Assistant (ELSA) - Hillbourne Primary School

Bournemouth Borough Council; Poole; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous holiday entitlement

Wellbeing support

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Hillbourne Primary School in Poole is seeking a Teaching Assistant with ELSA specialism to join a caring, inclusive team. You will deliver targeted ELSA interventions and support pupils with emotional, social or behavioural needs under the SENCO/Inclusion Leader.

You will help promote wellbeing and readiness to learn across classes. The role supports learning, fosters resilience and self-esteem, and involves planning and delivering resources for emotional wellbeing, with a strong commitment to

Qualifications

• Deliver planned ELSA interventions to individuals and groups.
• Support pupils with emotional, social or wellbeing needs.
• Work with SENCO/Inclusion Lead to promote wellbeing and readiness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Deliver planned ELSA interventions to individual pupils and small groups.
• Support pupils with emotional, social, behavioural or wellbeing difficulties.
• Establish trusting relationships and promote resilience and self-esteem.
• Develop resources to support emotional wellbeing programmes.

Skills

ELSA

Emotional literacy

Behaviour support

Safeguarding

Team player

Education

Teaching Assistant Level 2

Job description

## Job Introduction**Hillbourne Primary School Website**| | || --- | --- || **Contract:** | 30 hours per week, *term time only (38 weeks per year)* Permanent || **Salary:** | Grade D SCP 5 – 6, between £17,916 to £18,697 per annum pro rata (£26,427 to £26,846 per annum full time equivalent) || **Application deadline:** | Midnight Sunday 4th October 2026 || **Interview date:** | TBC October 2026 || **Start Date:** | Asap November 2026 |**Please note, we may close the advert prior to the advertised closing date should we have sufficient applications. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to apply as soon as possible.**Hillbourne Primary School is a happy and inclusive school for children aged 4-11 years old located in the Broadstone area of Poole, Dorset.We strongly believe in working together as a team and welcome all children and their families to become part of our school community. It is our aim and belief that all children will thrive with our core values; Be Ready, Be Respectful, Be Safe.’ All three core values are understood by all, demonstrated by all and driven by all.The team at Hillbourne Primary School is passionate about equipping our unique children with the essential knowledge and skills they need for their next stage in education and beyond. We are delighted to share the report from our latest Ofsted inspection in February 2025, that judged our school to be Good overall with Outstanding 'Personal Development' and 'Leadership and Management'. The inspectors commented that ‘Exceptional leadership at all levels underpins the success of the school’.You will be joining a dedicated team that is passionate about making a difference and committed to nurturing the whole child. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to shape learning experiences that are creative, inclusive, and meaningful. We are committed to the professional development and wellbeing of our staff. We offer high-quality training, mentoring, and opportunities for career progression.Hillbourne Primary is in the Hillary Partnership of Hamwic Education Trust (HET); a large, fast-paced multi-academy trust with currently 37 schools across the South Coast: Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole and Dorset. The Hillary Partnership is a multi-academy partnership based in Poole. The partnership enables local schools to work together to develop a strong education for all our children.**Role Summary****:**Hillbourne Primary School are seeking to appoint a Teaching Assistant with ELSA specialism. This is an exciting opportunity to join a happy and inclusive school community, working within a dedicated team committed to supporting every child to thrive. The role includes:* In addition to the duties of a Teaching Assistant Level 2, the postholder will provide targeted emotional literacy support interventions to pupils experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties. They will work under the direction of the SENCO/Inclusion Leader to promote pupils' emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn.* To develop knowledge of a range of learning and behavioural support needs and to plan, devise and implement appropriate programmes to help develop children’s emotional literacy skills and emotional well-being.* You may be required to work with whole classes, smaller groups or be assigned to work with particular pupils who may have particular requirements or Statements of their Special Needs.**We are seeking a professional individual who****:*** Deliver planned ELSA interventions to individual pupils and small groups.* Support pupils experiencing emotional, social, behavioural or wellbeing difficulties.* Establish trusting and supportive relationships with identified pupils.* Promote pupils' emotional literacy, resilience, self-esteem and self-regulation skills.* Develop and prepare resources to support emotional wellbeing programmes.* Support pupils during periods of transition where emotional support has been identified.* Supports the teacher by working with individuals or groups of children to support their learning and development* Has proven experience working with children, including those with additional or special educational needs* Demonstrates a good understanding of safeguarding practices and confidentiality* Establishes supportive, caring and secure relationships with the child/ children, promoting respect, self-esteem and a positive, inclusive whole school ethos* Contributes to evaluation, review and planning discussions with the teacher, Inclusion Lead and other members of the support team* Communicates clearly, calmly and professionally, maintaining composure and sound judgement under pressure.* Offers a fair and consistent approach to managing behaviour and individual needs in line with school policies and procedures* Helps, supports and motivates the children, clarifying instructions, encouraging independent learning and behaviour and enabling learning targets and outcomes to be achieved* Is a committed team player, motivated to support children’s independence and engage in ongoing professional development.**What we offer you****:*** An opportunity to be part of a collaborative team with a shared vision of excellence* A real career path in a thriving and respected organisation* Flexible working approach, where possible* Wellbeing day (trial for 2025/26)* Excellent training and development programmes and opportunities* Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme* Generous holiday entitlement, increasing with length of service* Access to our benefits portal offering a full range of discounts available through Lifestyle Savings* Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme, this includes free confidential telephone and face to face counselling for employees and family members* Access to financial wellbeing support through a company that provides comprehensive guidance on all things mortgage related* Eligible for a Blue Light card**About Hamwic Education Trust****:**HET is fully committed to developing an outstanding workforce. We are a friendly and supportive community of professionals working hard to ensure that our schools are enabling children to grow and develop for the future.We have talented staff working in leadership, teaching and support roles throughout our schools and committed professionals working in the Managed Services team covering education, safeguarding, HR, IT, finance and estates. This experienced team supports our schools and is responsible for the successful delivery of our multi-academy trust.As an employer, we support our staff to grow through continuing professional development and there is a range of apprenticeships and other opportunities available throughout the Trust to extend your knowledge, skills and career prospects.HET celebrates the uniqueness of our pupils, our staff and our schools and we aim for everyone to achieve their full potential through the pathways of opportunities available.HET recognises that by valuing and promoting equal opportunities in employment for all employees and job applicants and avoiding unlawful discrimination in employment and delivery of services, we will be able to deliver first class education and value the differences our workforce brings to HET.**Application Procedure:****Please note previous applicants need not apply.**If you would like to discuss the role further, please contact the school by emailing [e-mail] to arrange an informal chat or have a tour of the school. Potential candidates will be asked to bring their current school ID and/or photographic ID as proof when they visit the school for a tour.If you wish to apply for this position, please complete an application form which can be found at **Job vacancies | Careers | Hamwic Education Trust | Multi-academy Trust** and return to [e-mail]**CV’s will only be accepted along with a completed application form.****Please note, we may close the advert prior to the advertised closing date should we have sufficient applications. We strongly encourage prospective applicants to apply as soon as possible.**Hamwic Education Trust (HET) are committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of our pupils and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes enhanced criminal record and barring checks, scrutiny of work and training history, robust referencing, and other vetting checks. Successful candidates will also be subject to online searches.Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across HET.All HET employees are required to undergo continuous professional development to maintain safe working practices and to safeguard our pupils.