Teaching Assistant (Literacy focus)
The Westgate School, Winchester, Hampshire, SO22 5AZ13 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
5 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
22 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Part time: 34 hours and 10 minutes per week 39 weeks per year
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £25186 - £26244
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are seeking to recruit a Teaching Assistant to join our enthusiastic and committed support team in the Secondary Phase of our all-through school. Initially in year one of the role, the successful candidate will deliver the school’s new Thinking Reading programme, working 1:1 with pupils as part of the wider whole-school literacy strategy. The role may also include working with small groups and whole classes. The role will suit someone who has experience working with children and supporting them to become independent learners. It would suit someone with a particular interested in working with children who are neurodiverse.
What we’re looking for:
We are seeking individuals who can build positive, trusting relationships with children and who bring empathy, patience and enthusiasm to their work.
- Have experience working with children, building positive relationships in a calm, empathetic way
- Have a specific interest in developing children’s reading skills to enable them to flourish in society
- Have a specific interest in supporting children with ADHD, ASC and medical needs
- Have obtained Maths and English qualifications to GCSE Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent
- Proficiency in using the Microsoft office suite or willingness to learn
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to keep accurate records
- The ability to model high quality reading aloud and have good oracy skills
- Be committed to the highest possible levels of achievement for every pupil
- Be cheerful, flexible and approachable, with a good sense of humour
- Be able to demonstrate high levels of emotional resilience and stay calm under pressure in order to support vulnerable children
- Show initiative within the role and have excellent time management skills
- Be a hard-working team player, able to work closely with teachers and other adults within the classroom to ensure the best for all our pupils
- Have the patience and the resourcefulness to support and inspire our children with their learning, helping to unlock their potential
- Have a good understanding of child development
- Have excellent wider communication skills
- Be able to support children’s behaviour for learning and for their self-regulation
- Have a strong commitment to supporting all children and young people in learning to read, and reading to learn
- Be enthusiastic and committed to supporting children with specific needs both inside and outside the classroom
- Be keen to participate in professional learning and qualifications
What the school offers its staff
Benefits of working at The Westgate School:
- Full induction programme including training and mentoring to ensure your success in the role
- Ongoing personal development in one of Hampshire’s top schools for progress and attainment
- A friendly and welcoming school community
- Automatic enrolment to a generous local government pension scheme
- Benefits of local government sick pay
- On-site parking and access to EV charging stations
- Free use of health and fitness facilities
- Preferential nursery places in the on-site nursery at a reduced price
- Preferential admission to The Westgate School for colleagues' children (after 2 years of employment)
What we can offer:
- The chance to be part of a highly skilled and friendly team and work in all key phases in the all-through school
- The chance to develop your own specialism within the Learning Support Team
- Opportunities to teach small groups of pupils
- Opportunities for training related to special educational needs including autism and ABA
- Where there are suitable courses, we are happy to support in apprenticeship training
Further information about the job
Safeguarding: The Westgate School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
Pre-employment checks: All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks, which will include an online search to identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available online, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education recommendations.
Child Protection Policy: You can find The Westgate School’s Child Protection Policy document on our policies webpage.
Equal Opportunities: In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.
AI: We encourage applicants to avoid using AI for their application and if doing so, please state this in the application. Please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own as it forms part of the basis upon which future employment may be decided.
How to apply: Job descriptions and application forms are available at www.westgate.hants.sch.uk/vacancies.
Please send completed application forms to the HR team recruitment@westgate.hants.sch.uk
Please note, only submissions on the Hampshire County Council application form will be accepted.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and we may close the advert early, so we encourage early applications.
Closing Date: 12:00 noon Tuesday 5th May 2026
Interview Date: Wednesday 13th May 2026
Commitment to safeguarding
The Westgate School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks, which will include an online search in order to identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available online, in line with KCSiE recommendations.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The Westgate School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 4 to 16
- Education phase
- All through school
- School size
- 1627 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Westgate School website
- Email address
- hr@westgate.hants.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01962 854757
The Westgate School is a vibrant, all-through school setting with excellent facilities in Hampshire's county capital, Winchester.
"The Westgate School is a happy and vibrant community, where pupils are
encouraged to aim for excellence" OFSTED report, 2022.
At The Westgate School we provide opportunities for our colleagues for professional development in one of Hampshire’s top schools for progress and attainment. Our values and ethos are based on the fundamental belief that we are a community of learners - adults and pupils alike - in which every individual should be enabled to enjoy learning, develop as a happy and healthy individual who is able to make a unique and positive contribution to society: learning together, achieving excellence.
Arranging a visit to The Westgate School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email hr@westgate.hants.sch.uk.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Hampshire