Teaching Assistant - Part Time

At West Somerset College, we are passionate about giving every student the best possible chance to thrive, achieve and feel included.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join our supportive team. If you’re committed to helping young people succeed and want to make a genuine difference in our Minehead community, we’d love to hear from you.

As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll work closely with teachers to support learning, promote independence and help students achieve their best. You’ll contribute to classroom delivery, adapt resources for individual needs, including those with SEND, and help maintain a safe, inclusive and positive environment where every student feels valued.

• Supporting students in lessons and small groups to help them stay on track and build independence
• Adapting activities and materials to suit a range of learning needs, including those with SEND
• Promoting positive behaviour and emotional wellbeing across the school
• Preparing learning resources and assisting with classroom admin
• Tracking student progress and feeding into lesson planning and reviews
• Building strong, respectful relationships with pupils, colleagues, and families
• Upholding safeguarding and wellbeing as a top priority

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Positive, caring and genuinely motivated to help young people succeed
• Calm, adaptable and able to thrive in a busy school environment
• Confident using ICT and comfortable working with a wide range of learners
• Committed to inclusion, equality and professional integrity

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills (GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above)
• Experience working with children or young people
• The ability to build trust, communicate clearly and work collaboratively with others

A Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning is ideal, but not essential—we welcome applicants who are keen to work towards it. Experience in a school setting, knowledge of the national curriculum, and confidence supporting students with SEND would all be strong advantages.

• Generous local government pension scheme with employer contributions of more than 24%
• Employee Reward Scheme including high-street discounts and a staff wellbeing centre.

We believe in hiring for potential and this means that we value individuals for the knowledge skills and experience that they have developed in every aspect of their lives. If you don’t feel that you meet all of the criteria listed in the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply.

We care about our staff and provide a number of benefits in addition to salary including a positive and supportive working environment, employer pension contribution of at least 23%, generous annual leave entitlement for all-year round staff, on-site gyms, free parking, access to a retail discounts platform and Employee Assistance Programme. Helping you achieve a good work life balance is important to us.

Lots of our colleagues work flexibly including part time hours and/or job shares and we are happy to discuss these opportunities with you.

We truly believe that diversity of thought, culture, background and perspective secure the best outcomes for our students. We strive to build teams that represent our local communities and welcome applications from individuals who identify as members of an under-represented group and in particular individuals who identify as BAME, disabled or LGBT. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Bridgwater & Taunton College Trust is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share its commitment. Our mission is that all children achieve. This post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all applicants, which will include a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).