Higher Level Teaching Assistant - West Somerset Area

Willow Vale School, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2JD

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  28 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  14 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £24,816.00 - £27,821.00 Annually (Actual)

Higher Level Teaching Assistant - West Somerset Area job summary

Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint permanent Higher Level Teaching Assistants (HLTA) - Grade 12 actual annual gross salary £24,816- £27,821 Salary dependent on experience

37 hours per week for 39 weeks per year - (Term time plus INSET days)

Hours of work: Monday 8.30-5.00, Tuesday to Thursday 8.30-4.30 and Friday 08.30 - 3.30

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, as well as working in West Somerset from September 2026, 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 experienced HLTAs to join our team to work specifically in West Somerset. The successful candidate will work in a range of mainstream schools as well as community venues to support children of all ages with specific interventions.

The post will include planning, leading and delivering a range of interventions and subjects under the direction of a teacher. Ideally you should have experience of working with young people who may have significant gaps in their education to help them re-engage in their learning.

You will be expected to demonstrate:

• Excellent communication skills
• An awareness of safeguarding young people (although full training will be provided)
• An understanding of how children and young people learn
• An ability to build positive relationships with students, staff and families
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills

In return we can offer ongoing CPD opportunities, promotional opportunities and a very supportive and skilled team. Willow Vale works as a part of a wider team within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.

If you feel you have what it takes to work with us to achieve the very best for our students, we would very much like to hear from you.

Enquiries and visits are welcomed please call Jo Stamford, Assistant HR Manager, on 01278 496386 or email HR@Poldenbower.org.uk.

Willow Vale School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All posts require a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure, 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

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Willow Vale School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, ages 5 to 16
• School size: 59 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Willow Vale School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-bridge-school-sedgemoor

The Bridge School, Sedgemoor is one of four Pupil Referral Units commissioned by Somerset County Council and Somerset schools. We provide services through a number of centres for students who have a range of social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. All students are referred through their mainstream schools in the Sedgemoor area.

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