Specialist Teaching Assistant

Downend School, Bristol, BS16 6XA

14 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  28 August 2026

• Closing date

  11 September 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  28 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: PATH 6. £29,542 FTE, £22,319 prorated

Specialist Teaching Assistant job summary

Job title: Specialist Teaching Assistant

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 behavior 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:

• be an experienced, enthusiastic, proactive and resourceful person who is committed to securing high standards for all young people.
• have up to date knowledge and continuing professional development in any specialist area of responsibility 
• be able to demonstrate commitment to recent training related to SEND interventions
• understand what constitutes an effective intervention and will understand how to use data to inform the intent, implementation and impact of any intervention work
• be someone with good communication and organisational skills that will include dealing with parents, outside agencies and the students.
• excellent organisation skills and excellent written and verbal communication skills

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:

• Happy, engaging students
• 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 Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions and death‑in‑service cover
• 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, 11th September. 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 pupils.

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

CSET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful candidates are subject to child protection screening appropriate to the post, which will include an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for the children’s workforce and a Children’s Barred List check.

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 Downend School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1415 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Downend School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/downend-school

Downend School is an exciting and vibrant learning community where every student is supported to achieve their absolute best and every member of teaching and support staff play their part in creating this ethos. We are proud of the exciting curriculum, outstanding pastoral care and excellent opportunities for enrichment that Downend School provides.

Downend School is situated in leafy South Gloucestershire, but is less than 25 minutes away from the heart of the cosmopolitan vibrancy of Bristol City Centre. We offer the benefits not only of working in an exciting and supportive school, but also from being part of Castle School Education Trust.

School location

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