Teaching Assistant

Hill View School, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6GD

15 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  5 December 2025

• Closing date

  16 January 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 December 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £18,943.78 actual after pro rata

Teaching Assistant job summary

Teaching Assistant Vacancies

Hill View School is a specialist school for learners with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We are seeking dedicated Teaching Assistants to join our trauma-informed team. This role is not for everyone; it is a challenging, demanding, and incredibly rewarding position that requires a unique set of skills and personal qualities. You will be working with some of the most vulnerable learners in the education system, helping them to overcome significant barriers and achieve their full potential.

About the Role at Hill View:

Our school is built on "The Hill View Way," a therapeutic and relational approach where we understand that all behaviour is a form of communication, often signalling an unmet need. As a Teaching Assistant, you will be a vital part of creating a safe, predictable, and nurturing learning environment where our students can feel secure enough to regulate, engage, and learn. You will work alongside teachers to deliver an ambitious curriculum that is seamlessly integrated with therapeutic support.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Actively contributing to a therapeutic learning environment, using co-regulation and de-escalation strategies to support learners in distress.
  
• Building trusting, positive, and professional relationships with learners who may have experienced relational trauma or insecure attachments.
  
• Supporting learners to overcome significant barriers, both academically and emotionally, often on a one-to-one or small group basis.
  
• Implementing adaptive teaching strategies to ensure all learners can access the curriculum.
  
• Championing our school values: We Stay Safe, We Are Respectful, We Learn More.
  
• Working collaboratively with the class team, therapists, and parents to ensure a consistent, shared approach to each child's progress.
  

About You (Ideal Candidate Profile):

We are looking for individuals who possess:

• Exceptional emotional resilience and the ability to maintain a calm, positive, and professional demeanour in challenging and dynamic situations.
  
• Genuine empathy and a non-judgemental attitude, with the ability to see the child behind the behaviour.
  
• A strong belief in a trauma-informed, relational, and restorative approach to education.
  
• The curiosity to understand what a child's behaviour is communicating.
  
• An unwavering commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children.
  
• Previous experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, or in other challenging environments is highly advantageous.
  

Why Join Our Team? What We Offer in Return:

Working in an SEMH environment is demanding, which is why we place a strong strategic emphasis on staff wellbeing and professional development. We offer:

• Comprehensive training in de-escalation and positive behaviour support (CPI), alongside our therapeutic "Bounce Approach".
  
• A dedicated programme of regular weekly CPD to build your specialist skills and confidence, which is a key part of our staff retention strategy.
  
• A structured induction programme designed to immerse you in our therapeutic culture.
  
• A highly supportive and collaborative team of staff who share a commitment to giving our students the very best opportunities.
  
• A leadership team with a strong, visible commitment to staff wellbeing and managing workload.

Salary:

After Pro Rata: £18,943.78

Hours: 32.5 Hours per week, Term time plus INSET days (8:30am - 3:30pm Monday to Friday)

Start Date: As soon as possible

We are eager to welcome new members to our team who share our commitment to enhancing education and fostering an inclusive, dynamic learning environment. If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the educational sector, we look forward to receiving your application.

Please note: This position is subject to satisfactory references and a comprehensive background check. The closing date is subject to change, dependant on the number of applications received.

Hill View School is part of The Oak Partnership Trust.

Safeguarding Statement

Hill View School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to understand and share this commitment. We have a shared commitment to develop a culture of respect, where discrimination is not tolerated. We welcome all applications, including those from under-represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

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 Hill View School

• School type: Free School, ages 5 to 16
• School size: 55 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Hill View School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/hill-view-school-martock

Hill View School Vision

At Hill View School, we build a thriving community where everyone feels welcome and invested in their learning. Through collaborative partnerships, we forge lasting bonds. We empower each young person to reach their full potential through personalised learning and a supportive environment. This ignites a passion for lifelong discovery and prepares our young people to live their best lives.

Empowering all learners. Building strong communities. Unlocking potential.

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