Teaching Assistant
| Posting date: | 06 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £21,685 to £23,102 per year |
| Additional salary information: | West Berkshire Grade D plus £1304 SEN allowance per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 March 2026 |
| Location: | RG14 2JG |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | The Castle School |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We are looking for a kind, dedicated, and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join our team on a full-time, permanent basis. You will play a vital role in helping our pupils thrive — supporting their learning, nurturing their confidence, and encouraging them to participate fully in school life. Whether working alongside a teacher in the classroom, supporting individual pupils, or working with small groups, your warmth and commitment will make a lasting impact.
What You'll Be Doing
• Support teachers in the smooth and effective running of the classroom
• Promote positive values, attitudes and behaviour consistently across all settings
• Work with individual pupils and small groups to support their learning and development, always treating them with respect and consideration
• Hold high expectations of all pupils' achievement and demonstrate a genuine commitment to raising educational standards
• Encourage all pupils to participate actively in every aspect of school life
• Nurture the social and emotional development of pupils, helping them build confidence and independence
• Work effectively under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher
• Stand in for the teacher to lead the class in their absence, supported by the wider class team
• Link in with parents and supporting the teacher in communication
• Attend after school training and parents evening
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils
• Work collaboratively with colleagues as part of a professional and supportive team
Who We're Looking For
You don't need to have worked in a special school before — what matters most is that you bring:
• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people with special educational needs
• Patience, empathy, and a naturally warm and encouraging approach
• A commitment to inclusion and a belief that every pupil can achieve
• The ability to work flexibly as part of a close-knit team
• Resilience, positivity, and a good sense of humour
• Candidates must have a recognised level 3 qualification
Contracted hours
Our Teaching Assistants have a 37 hour contract which is non-negotiable. You will be contracted for Monday through till Friday. 8:30-4:30 Monday to Thursday and 8:30-3:30 on a Friday. These hours are essential for supporting the teacher and the classroom and attending training after school.
How to Apply
If you share our values and are excited by this opportunity, we would love to hear from you.
The Castle School is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment and are in line with the guidance in KCSIE. All shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal records self-disclosure form. Successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks including online searches to help to identify any incidents and/or issues, which may be relevant to your suitability for the role, which the school may want to explore further with you.
What You'll Be Doing
• Support teachers in the smooth and effective running of the classroom
• Promote positive values, attitudes and behaviour consistently across all settings
• Work with individual pupils and small groups to support their learning and development, always treating them with respect and consideration
• Hold high expectations of all pupils' achievement and demonstrate a genuine commitment to raising educational standards
• Encourage all pupils to participate actively in every aspect of school life
• Nurture the social and emotional development of pupils, helping them build confidence and independence
• Work effectively under the direction and supervision of a qualified teacher
• Stand in for the teacher to lead the class in their absence, supported by the wider class team
• Link in with parents and supporting the teacher in communication
• Attend after school training and parents evening
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils
• Work collaboratively with colleagues as part of a professional and supportive team
Who We're Looking For
You don't need to have worked in a special school before — what matters most is that you bring:
• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people with special educational needs
• Patience, empathy, and a naturally warm and encouraging approach
• A commitment to inclusion and a belief that every pupil can achieve
• The ability to work flexibly as part of a close-knit team
• Resilience, positivity, and a good sense of humour
• Candidates must have a recognised level 3 qualification
Contracted hours
Our Teaching Assistants have a 37 hour contract which is non-negotiable. You will be contracted for Monday through till Friday. 8:30-4:30 Monday to Thursday and 8:30-3:30 on a Friday. These hours are essential for supporting the teacher and the classroom and attending training after school.
How to Apply
If you share our values and are excited by this opportunity, we would love to hear from you.
The Castle School is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment and are in line with the guidance in KCSIE. All shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal records self-disclosure form. Successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks including online searches to help to identify any incidents and/or issues, which may be relevant to your suitability for the role, which the school may want to explore further with you.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.