32 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    As soon as possible

  • Closing date

    6 October 2025 at 9am

  • Date listed

    4 September 2025

Job details

Job role

  • Teaching assistant

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Key stage

Key stage 3, Key stage 4

Working pattern

Part time: 28 hours and 20 minutes per week, term time only plus 2 INSET days

Contract type

Permanent

Actual salary

£16,604 per annum minimum starting salary

What skills and experience we're looking for

Required as soon as possible, a Teaching Assistant (THRIVE experience desirable) to join the SEND team, providing specialist in-class and group support for identified students on the SEND register.

Buckler’s Mead is a highly ambitious, successful secondary academy serving the east side of Yeovil, close to the Dorset border. Since September 2021, we have been part of the Midsomer Norton Schools’ Partnership - a highly successful Multi Academy Trust, often considered the ‘market leader’ in the South West for school improvement.

Having achieved the best results in the school’s history in summer 2023, Buckler’s Mead Academy is going from strength to strength.

We seek to recruit a Teaching Assistant (THRIVE experience desirable) to work with the SENDCo and join our SEND team to organise, monitor and support the implementation of personalised learning provision for identified students on the SEND register. The ideal candidate will be outgoing, enthusiastic, energetic, resilient and patient, with experience of working with SEND students. You will be dedicated and passionate about supporting students with Special Educational Needs and able to work alongside teachers to support teaching and learning. The SEND team works closely together and it is therefore essential that you can build good relationships with others quickly and efficiently and can work well as part of a team.

Duties of the role include:

  • Using the THRIVE approach to support students to access school and learning
  • Providing specialist in-class support to SEND students
  • Contributing to assessment through observation and recording of assessment data
  • Contributing to students’ learning passports and THRIVE plans
  • Working with students who are not following the normal timetable, under guidance from the SENDCo
  • Sharing progress and observations with teaching staff to improve provision in the classroom
  • Proactively recording achievements and incidents on the academy’s Class Charts and provision mapping system
  • Devising a range of either physical or creative activities to stimulate engagement
  • Selecting and adapting appropriate resources/methods to facilitate agreed learning activities
  • Invigilation for exams and tests
  • Supervision of individuals and/or groups of students throughout the day, eg in the playground and dining areas

The accompanying Job Description gives further information and background about THRIVE and further details of the knowledge, skills, experience and attributes which the successful candidate will possess.

What the school offers its staff

In return, we can offer the full support of a dedicated and committed team of staff, a supportive induction programme and ongoing professional development, plus the opportunity to work in a developing academy in a beautiful area of the South West. Staff benefits include free on-site parking, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and access for all staff to the Employee Assistance Programme “Health Assured” which is a telephone based advice, information and counselling service. A selection of meals, snacks (hot and cold) and drinks is available for staff to purchase from the refectory.

We seek to significantly invest in developing all of our staff. This has been strengthened by our work with Trust partners and the successful candidate will benefit from trust wide opportunities, CPD and working with colleagues across trust schools. Our vision as an academy is “An Inspiring Education For All”. We believe that all members of our community should be given the opportunity to be happy, to achieve, participate and become successful. Our job as professionals is to ensure this happens. All our staff sign up to these aspirations and play a full role in contributing to this vision through inclusive teaching and support. We seek to recruit dedicated and talented staff, highly committed to making a difference.

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.

The academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to references and a full Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that in line with ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ requirements we carry out social media checks on all shortlisted candidates.

Buckler’s Mead Academy is an equal opportunities employer. The campus is a no smoking site.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications.

Commitment to safeguarding

Buckler's Mead is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children.

We have a duty of care and the right to take reasonable action, ensuring the welfare and safety of pupils. If staff have cause for concern that a child is subject to any form of abuse, we will follow child protection procedures and inform Children’s Services.

Buckler’s Mead meets statutory requirements relating to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work with Buckler’s Mead Academy who meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment.

Applying for the job

Please complete the online application.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

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If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

About Buckler's Mead School

School type
Academy, ages 11 to 16
Education phase
Secondary
School size
797 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 16
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
Phone number
01935 424454

Originally established as Buckler's Mead School in 1957, Buckler’s Mead Academy is now a successful 11- 16 academy where we pride ourselves on providing an inspiring education for all. This is achieved through a strong sense of community, providing a wide range of opportunities, ensuring students enjoy school and are ultimately successful in their chosen field.

We believe in providing a learning environment that is calm, orderly and respectful, where our students can reach their full potential and go on to be happy, successful and fulfilled members of the community.

In September 2021 the Academy joined the Midsomer Norton Partnership Trust. This is a strong trust of more than 25 schools, including 11 secondary schools. The trust is often described as the 'market leader' in the South West and has an exceptional record for providing high quality educational provision to all of its students.

Arranging a visit to Buckler's Mead School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email rjarvis@bucklersmeadacademy.com.

School location

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