Teaching Assistant (SEND Unit)

Waingels, Reading, Berkshire, RG5 4RF

18 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  26 June 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  8 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £21,681.01 - £22,025.08 Annually (Actual) Grade 3 SCP 5 to 6

Teaching Assistant (SEND Unit) job summary

Teaching Assistant (SEND Unit)

Grade 3 SCP 5 to 6

Actual salary of £21,681.01 to £22,025.08 per annum

Full time (37 hours per week)

Permanent, term time plus three additional days

Do you want to be part of a brand new SEND unit, where students have individual support to enable them to belong, thrive and succeed?

Do you believe that every student deserves the best opportunities to succeed?

Do you have a passion for supporting students to overcome potential barriers to being successful?

Do you have the skill and passion to support students with their learning in a small setting?

Do you have experience working with young people, providing support with their learning needs in a classroom setting or elsewhere?

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to further develop the skills you bring to an existing role as a Teaching Assistant?

Would you like to work in a school where staff well-being is central to all decisions?

If the answer to any of these questions is ‘yes’, then we would love to hear from you!

Waingels is seeking to appoint a committed, hard working Teaching Assistant (TA) to join our friendly, skillful team of Teaching Assistants and Para-Educators, to focus on the provision of support and intervention within our new SEND unit for students with autism and communication needs: Waingels Thrive Centre.

Waingels Thrive Centre is a specialist SEND Designated Unit for up to 25 students with complex Speech, Language and Social Communication Needs, including those with a diagnosis of autism or currently on an assessment pathway.

As an integral part of Waingels, the Thrive Centre shares the mainstream school’s vision to be a fully inclusive community where everyone belongs, thrives and succeeds. We are committed to enabling every student to feel valued, understood and empowered to achieve their full potential.

At the heart of Thrive is a personalised, aspirational approach to education. Students follow a broad and balanced curriculum that is carefully adapted to meet their individual needs. Alongside academic learning, the curriculum is enriched through the Autism Education Trust framework, supporting progress in communication, social understanding and independence.

As a Teaching Assistant at Waingels you will have the opportunity to work as part of a team to help support our SEND students in achieving their learning goals. The role includes supporting students both in the Thrive Centre and in mainstream classrooms, working alongside teachers and where necessary, undertaking small group intervention. This is therefore an ideal role for candidates who are caring and committed to helping our students access the curriculum and succeed with their learning. The successful candidate would be expected to help and support students in a range of different subjects, as well as undertaking duties at break and lunchtime within the Thrive Centre.

We are looking for someone who is caring, patient, resilient and has a passion for ensuring all students have the opportunity of accessing the National Curriculum. If you feel your values and ethos align with ours, this is an exciting opportunity for you!

How to Apply

Our staff and students are proud of our school and we would be happy to welcome you if you would like to come and have a closer look round before applying. Additionally, please feel free to contact us for an informal conversation with a hiring manager.

Contact: Mollie Williams (HR Administrator)

Phone number: 0118 969 0336

Email: HRandrecruitment@waingels.wokingham.sch.uk.

All of our vacancies are advertised on My New Term and we can only accept applications that are submitted via this platform.

We will review applications as they are submitted, so you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

The school is committed to safeguarding, equal opportunities and to promoting the welfare of all staff and students.

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

The college is committed to safeguarding, equal opportunities and to promoting the welfare of all staff and students

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 Waingels

• School type: Academies, Does not apply, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1421 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Waingels website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/waingels

Waingels is a very successful 11 to 18 Comprehensive school serving its local community. Our successes and achievements can be attributed to our commitment to establish and grow a Better Never Stops culture, providing a safe, inclusive and rich learning environment where students feel safe and valued, founded on respectful relationships for all. Our ethos and culture are values based. We set high standards and expect all our students and staff to be respectful, kind, resilient and proud of our school, our achievements and our community.

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