Senior Teaching Assistant

Senior Teaching Assistant

Full-Time 28800 - 43200 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
N

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Support teachers and inspire students to overcome learning barriers in a creative environment.
  • Company: Join Leicestershire County Council, dedicated to transforming young lives.
  • Benefits: Enjoy professional development, flexible working options, and a supportive team.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of young people while growing your skills.
  • Qualifications: NVQ 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning or equivalent experience required.
  • Other info: Diverse workplace with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: Oakfield Secondary Provision based at our: Shepshed site, Loughborough site, Glenfield site or our Hinkley site.

Worker Category: Field Based Worker

Working Hours: 34 hrs per week, term time (39 wks)

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 11th January 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

About the Role

Oakfield Short Stay School is Leicestershire’s provision for primary and secondary school aged children who are at risk, or who have been permanently excluded from school. You will be part of a vital team in an exciting period of development, working with us to meet the needs of children and young people between the ages of 11 and 16 who struggle to manage in mainstream and need a different offer of education to secure their successful next steps.

Role Overview: This role is to support teachers across subjects and to work with pupils to remove barriers to learning. Our students have a variety of learning needs and learn in small groups. We are looking for a person who is creative, flexible, holistic, and has a trauma-informed approach, to raise engagement and inspire our children to achieve remarkable outcomes. You will be at the heart of our mission, working with small groups of learners and delivering a creative curriculum that captivates and inspires. The role would suit someone with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who can inspire others. Many of our young people present with challenging behaviour, and we are looking for someone who can demonstrate strong empathy and ability to intrinsically connect with pupils.

Key Responsibilities

  • Teach and Inspire: To assist with the planning, delivery and evaluation of whole class learning activities, including identifying how the pupils can best be supported.
  • Support Reintegration: To work under the supervision of a teacher to plan, deliver and evaluate learning activities for small groups or individual pupils, providing feedback on pupil engagement and their achievement of the desired learning objectives.
  • Collaborate with Agencies: To develop positive relationships with colleagues, providing consistent and effective support and, where relevant, guiding the work of other adults in supporting teaching and learning.
  • Promote Inclusion: Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, ensuring all pupils feel valued and supported.

What We Offer

  • Unique Learning Environment: Experience a diverse and dynamic workplace where every day is different.
  • Professional Development: Access opportunities for professional growth and bespoke training.
  • Supportive Team: Join a highly skilled and supportive team of practitioners.
  • Make a Difference: Play a crucial role in transforming the lives of young people.
  • Flexibility: Options for part-time or full-time work to suit your lifestyle.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.

About You

To apply for this post, you must have:

  • NVQ 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning, or equivalent, OR Able to demonstrate the ability to meet the STL Level 3 National Occupational Standards relevant to this post.
  • Able to demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy equivalent to level 2.
  • Experience of supporting planning, evaluation and delivery of learning activities for children and young people in a formal setting.
  • Experience of working in a pupil referral unit, special school, ERB or with cohorts of pupils with additional needs.

You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion. In addition, we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.

Interested in Flexible Working? We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council.

If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.

For more information or an informal discussion, please contact: Vicky Edwards - Executive Headteacher Telephone: 07860 611280 to arrange a visit.

How to Apply

Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities.

We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ Plus communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the communities we serve. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.

To apply for this job, please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the 'About You' section above.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal.

Our aim is to work with communities and partners to deliver public services that make Leicestershire the best possible place to live and work for everyone. Our employees play a key role in supporting this goal and helping us deliver the vital services we provide to the people of Leicestershire.

Senior Teaching Assistant employer: Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

Leicestershire County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a unique learning environment where you can make a meaningful impact on the lives of young people. With a strong commitment to professional development and a supportive team culture, employees are encouraged to grow and thrive in their roles. The flexibility in working arrangements allows for a healthy work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those passionate about education and inclusion.
N

Contact Detail:

Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Teaching Assistant

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Leicestershire County Council on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the role and the team, plus it shows our genuine interest.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to supporting children with additional needs. We should also think of examples from our past experiences that highlight our empathy and creativity in teaching.

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase our passion for inclusion! During the interview, we can share specific instances where we've made a difference in a child's learning journey. This will resonate well with the values of Oakfield Short Stay School.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after the interview! A quick thank-you email expressing our appreciation for the opportunity can leave a lasting impression and keep us on their radar.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Teaching Assistant

NVQ 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning
Literacy Competency (Level 2)
Numeracy Competency (Level 2)
Experience in Planning Learning Activities
Experience in Evaluating Learning Activities
Experience in Delivering Learning Activities
Understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Empathy
Interpersonal Skills
Communication Skills
Ability to Support Pupils with Additional Needs
Flexibility
Creativity
Trauma-Informed Approach

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for supporting young people shine through. We want to see how you connect with our mission and how you can inspire students who face challenges.

Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your experience aligns with the role. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills in working with children and young people, especially those with additional needs.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that directly address the criteria listed in the job description. Avoid fluff and focus on what makes you a great fit for the role.

Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as possible through our website to ensure you don’t miss out!

How to prepare for a job interview at Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group

✨Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, make sure you understand the role of a Senior Teaching Assistant and the specific needs of the students you'll be working with. Familiarise yourself with trauma-informed approaches and how they can help engage learners who have faced challenges.

✨Showcase Your Empathy

During the interview, share examples of how you've connected with students in the past. Highlight your ability to empathise with their struggles and how you've helped them overcome barriers to learning. This will demonstrate that you truly understand the importance of building relationships.

✨Be Creative

Since the role involves delivering a creative curriculum, come prepared with ideas on how you would engage students. Think about activities or projects that could inspire them and show your potential employer that you're ready to think outside the box.

✨Ask Thoughtful Questions

At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, professional development opportunities, or how they support inclusion. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

N
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>