Specialist Education Support Assistant NEW

Location: Downend, South Gloucestershire

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 32.5 hours per week

Salary: CSET 9. £28,598 FTE, £21,606 prorated

Posted: 28th January 2026

Start Date: As Soon As Possible

Expires: 11th February

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 Education Support Lead, 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.
• Contributing to the "Assess, Plan, Do, Review" cycle for students on the SEND register.
• 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 behaviour 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 students from KS3 to KS5.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A good standard of education (including English and Maths) and experience working with young people with SEND.
• An understanding of what constitutes an effective intervention and how to use data to inform impact.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with parents, outside agencies, and students.
• Desirable: Extra training in evidence-based interventions related to literacy, numeracy, or speech and language.

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:

• Confident, well-behaved students and calm and orderly classrooms, backed up with a centralised behaviour system.
• Dedicated, friendly colleagues at all levels of the school, who have a huge amount of expertise and a commitment to working in the best interests of our students.
• A clear curriculum vision and focus on evidence-based practice.
• A strong commitment to CPD and development of all staff, in order to ensure continuous improvement for individuals and the school.
• An inclusive ethos and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for both staff, students and families.
• A commitment to the health and wellbeing of our staff.
• An excellent benefits package including up to 30% discount with Microsoft and Dell; discounted gym membership; cycle to work scheme and a dedicated counselling service.

In order to apply for this role please complete an application form by 9am, 11th February. 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.

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

CSET is committed to equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities, as we recognise the importance and benefit this has for our students.

Safeguarding Statement: CSET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.