Teaching Assistant - The Wymering School

Southern Education Trust; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early Friday finish

Induction and training opportunities

Leadership opportunities

Wellbeing culture

Career development within the Trust

Job summary

The Wymering School, part of the Southern Education Trust, is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support pupils with Social Communication needs, Speech and Language difficulties, and anxiety. You will assist learning, support wellbeing, and help students navigate the school day with a calm, reliable presence.

We offer a compassionate team, clear induction, and opportunities for professional growth within the school and Trust, including wellbeing-focused culture and early Friday finish.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with additional needs or disabilities preferred.
• Ability to stay calm and collected in high-pressure situations.
• Genuine passion for working with young people and patience in classroom moments.

Responsibilities

• Be the superhero sidekick in the classroom, helping students access learning.
• Assist in delivering personalised support and making learning fun.
• Use organisational skills to manage day-to-day needs of students and keep things running smoothly.
• Help create a positive, inclusive classroom environment where students feel safe to be themselves.
• Collaborate with teachers and other staff to support learning and well-being.

Skills

Reliability

Organisational skills

Multitasking

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Patience

Adaptability

Empathy

Job description

Teaching Assistant – The Wymering School

Salary: Grade D £26,427 – £27,274 (actual salary for 36.5 hours per week, term time only £22,309 – £23,024), Plus, generous sick pay and pension scheme.

Permanent, 36.5 hours per week, Term time only

At The Wymering School, part of the Southern Education Trust, we specialise in making magic happen every day, okay, maybe not actual magic, but you get the idea! We’re passionate about creating an environment where every child, regardless of their challenges, can shine.

We specialise in supporting young people with Social Communication and Interaction difficulties, associated Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties and high level of anxiety and/or associated distressed behaviour. We’re looking for super-organised, people-loving, multitasking gurus, and part superhero (cape optional), to join our growing team as Teaching Assistants.

Your role as a Teaching Assistant will involve helping students engage with their learning, supporting their emotional well-being, and feel confident in school.

You’ll be a key part of the classroom team, and a calming presence in moments of emotional turbulence (because let’s face it, the classroom can be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster). You’ll be the glue that holds everything together, the calm in the storm, the person who can help our students navigate their school day without it feeling overwhelming.

What you’ll be doing:

• Be the superhero sidekick students need in the classroom, helping them access learning in their own unique way, whether it’s helping them stay focused, managing behaviour, or just being there to listen.
• Assist in delivering personalised support for students; making learning fun and accessible and helping them feel at home in the classroom. Be the emotional support they didn’t know they needed.
• Use your organisational skills to manage the day-to-day needs of students and keep things running smoothly. Think of yourself as the backstage manager of a very lively show (but with fewer glittery costumes).
• Help create a positive, inclusive classroom environment where students feel safe to be themselves (even if that “self” involves a few wobbly moments).
• Collaborate with teachers, other staff members, because teamwork makes the dream work!

Who we’re looking for:

• Reliability, great organisational skills, and the ability to juggle. Not just balls or flaming torches (unless you’re into that!), but multiple tasks at once with the kind of grace only a true multitasker has.
• Experience of working with children (not essential) – especially those who’ve faced challenges. If you’ve worked with kids who have additional needs or disabilities, you’re basically our superhero in disguise.
• The ability to stay calm and collected in high-pressure situations – some days can be challenging but you can bounce back when things are tricky.
• A genuine passion for working with young people and the patience of a saint (or at least the patience of someone who’s had their fair share of ‘fascinating’ classroom moments!).
• The ability to adapt your style to each student, because no two days (or students) are the same.
• Enthusiasm and the right attitude are just as important!

About us:

The Wymering School, part of the Southern Education Trust, we believe every child deserves to be seen, understood and empowered to succeed – no matter the challenges they face. Our pupils are extraordinary young people with Social Communication and Interaction needs, Speech, Language and Communication difficulties, and high levels of anxiety and associated distressed behaviours.

Their progress is not always loud or visible. Sometimes it’s a raised hand. A calm moment. A return to a lesson. A moment of trust.

Our values – Togetherness, Resilience, Enthusiasm and Kindness are not words on a wall. They are seen in how staff support each other after a hard day. How we reflect. How we celebrate the smallest steps.

What we offer

• A compassionate, reflective team who carry the emotional weight together
• A role with genuine influence across the school and the Trust
• Ongoing professional growth and leadership opportunities
• A culture where wellbeing is lived, not labelled
• Work that is deeply human and genuinely life-changing
• The opportunity to change lives – often through small, powerful moments that stay with pupils forever.
• Early Friday finish – because wellbeing matters for staff too.
• Outstanding induction, mentoring and training opportunities.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust – a growing Trust where our mission is “ making lives better ” and our values are kindness, collaboration and creativity .

Interview date: 18 th November 2026

Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.