Teaching Assistant

Job title: Specialist ESA Salary: PATH 6. £29,542 FTE, £22,319 prorated Hours: 32.5 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

About the role

We are looking for a dedicated individual to work as part of a team promoting the emotional, physical and educational development of pupils, including those with special needs. Reporting to the SENDco, you will play a key role in planning and delivering targeted interventions to identified students who require additional support.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading small group work and 1:1 intervention sessions, specifically supporting literacy and numeracy skills. Monitoring student responses to learning activities and helping them achieve learning targets. Liaising with classroom teachers to plan effective support and maintain accurate special needs records. Assisting with the implementation of behaviour management programs and ensuring student safety.

About you You are an experienced, enthusiastic and proactive person committed to securing high standards for all young people. You possess endless supplies of compassion and patience, alongside the confidence to work with secondary aged students.

The ideal candidate will have:

A good standard of education (including English and Maths) and experience working with young people with SEND. An understanding of what constitutes an effective intervention and how to use data to inform impact. Excellent organisational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with parents, outside agencies and students.

About us

At Downend School we provide a safe, supportive and challenging learning environment that aims to inspire and empower young people to grasp opportunity; to reach their potential and excel; to develop responsibility and integrity and to respect themselves and others. We have a strong ethos based on our core PRIDE values of participation, respect, identity, determination and excellence. We set standards high and aim to nurture young people who are well equipped to become active and positive members of the school community and to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a time of rapid change. We are proud of the care and support we offer our students. We strongly believe in the value of creating a friendly and caring school community where youngsters feel a sense of belonging and feel valued and respected. Happy and motivated students will flourish and become successful young people. Above all, Downend is a happy school.

We can offer you:

A supportive trust and school community Strong collaboration across the trust family of schools and access to a centralised team of specialists across all areas of school operations A commitment to high‑quality CPD, with dedicated time and budget for your development A values‑driven ethos where diversity, equity and inclusion are lived every day Recognition of continuous service (modification order) to protect employment rights and entitlements Local Authority Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions and death‑in‑service cover Access to Health Shield, a fully-funded healthcare scheme Occupational sick pay to support you during illness or unexpected emergencies Family‑friendly leave packages to help maintain a healthy work–life balance

In order to apply for this role please complete an application form by 9am, 13th October. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the process. Further details and additional information about our school may be viewed on our website. If you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please contact us to arrange that. Please know that depending on the number of applications received we may decide to close the advert early. If you do not hear from us by a week after the closing date then please assume that you have not been shortlisted for an interview. If you have previously applied for this role there is no requirement to apply again, all applications will be reviewed. We wish you all the best in your future and ask that you join our E-Teach Talent Pool so as to keep up to date with all of our latest current opportunities. Join us in Providing a Great Education for Every Child Pathway Trust is committed to equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities, as we recognise the importance and benefit this has for our students.