Teaching Assistant

Willow Vale School, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2JD

4 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  12 July 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  8 July 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £18,651.00 - £19,548.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 15 +14

Teaching Assistant job summary

Willow Vale School are seeking to appoint permanent Teaching Assistants on a permanent contract.

32.5 hours per week, 39 Weeks per year. (Term time plus INSET days) . Monday 8.45am-4.45pm, Tuesday to Friday 8.45am-3.30pm.

We have a position available in our Bridgwater campus and our Minehead Campus. Both roles will be expected to work across the schools sites if required.

Grade 15 and Grade 14 £18,651-£19,548 Actual annual gross salary. Dependent on experience

Willow Vale School is a newly established and forward‑thinking provision created from the former Bridge School, Sedgemoor and Taunton Deane Partnership College (TDPC). Spread across six specialist sites in the Bridgwater and Taunton areas, we provide flexible, personalised education for children and young people with a wide range of needs. Our work is guided by three core values that shape everything we do: Be Safe. Be Kind. Belong. These values underpin our culture and ensure every learner feels supported, respected and part of a community where they can thrive.

Students join Willow Vale through several pathways. Our main remit is to work with and support young people who are not able to access mainstream schools, for a variety of reasons. Whatever the route, our aim is to provide high‑quality, highly personalised programmes that rebuild confidence, re‑engage learners and prepare them for their next steps.

We are looking for teaching assistants to support both our teaching & learning team and our welfare team.

The post-holder will need to be able to problem solve, show empathy and resilience and be able to support children and young people with complex needs. They may be required to support with behaviours which challenge, liaise with parents and carers and work 1:1 and with small groups of students.

You may be required to take students off-site and into the community to support them with their educational or welfare program.

You will be expected to demonstrate:

• An understanding of how children and young people learn
• Excellent communication skills
• An ability to build positive relationships with students, staff and families
• Good literacy, numeracy and ICT skills

We can offer ongoing CPD opportunities, promotional opportunities and a very supportive and skilled team. Willow Vale School works as a part of a wider team within a formal partnership with both Polden Bower and Avalon Schools.

If you feel you have what it takes to work with us to achieve the very best for our students, we would very much like to hear from you.

Enquiries and visits are welcomed please call Jo Stamford, Assistant HR Manager, on 01278 496386 or email HR@Poldenbower.org.uk.

Willow Vale School Sedgemoor is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This appointment will be subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, medical clearance, proof of the right to work in the UK and satisfactory references.

Following the acceptance of your interview, an online check will be carried out as detailed in the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines

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 Willow Vale School

• Organisation type: Local authority maintained school, ages 5 to 16
• Size: 60 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Willow Vale School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-bridge-school-sedgemoor

The Bridge School, Sedgemoor is one of four Pupil Referral Units commissioned by Somerset County Council and Somerset schools. We provide services through a number of centres for students who have a range of social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs. All students are referred through their mainstream schools in the Sedgemoor area.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Somerset, Bath and Bristol