Teaching Assistant Level 2

• Teaching Assistant Level 2
• Salary: FET Range D / £17,485 - £18,998 pa (actual) FTE - £22,829 £24,805 – Plus SEN allowance – pay award pending effective 1st April 2024
• 32.5 hours per week - term time only
• Permanent
• Start date: As soon as possible
• Closing Date: Friday 2nd August 2024
• Interview Date: TBC
• Location: The Bridge School, Coppice View Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B73 6UE

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Teaching Assistant to join The Bridge School. The Bridge School is a special school for primary age children with complex special educational needs that is part of Forward Education Trust. Many of our children have profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties or present on the autistic spectrum and have communication difficulties. 

All of the children who attend The Bridge School have an Education and Health Care Plan. Our school educates 90 children with complex and multiple needs. Children may have Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) or a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Some children have additional needs including visual impairment and hearing impairment and behaviour difficulties. Children attending our school will usually require augmented and modified curriculum opportunities including an overarching mobility curriculum and a sensory experiential curriculum for our more profound learners. The Bridge School underpins all its curriculum delivery through continually developing its communication work so that pupils may access their learning in a way personalised to their needs. We are passionate about meeting the needs of those children with the most complex needs. Our staff provide a caring and safe learning environment and work in partnership with our parents and carers to ensure that all our children can reach their full potential. 

Forward Education Trust is committed to providing continuous professional development for all staff and encourage a supportive, motivating, and engaging working environment in all of our Schools.

All applicants must be qualified to NVQ Level 2 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent and be able to evidence this.

What we can offer you:

• Teacher Pension or Support Staff Local Government Pension – Employer Contribution
• FET HUB – information all in one place, access to a range of benefits
• Paid for Health Cash Plan – employee and dependent children benefit – option to add partner
• Employee Questionnaire – Consultation with staff on a range of issues and ideas
• Salary sacrifice scheme – Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to the NHS approved Thrive App – to support mental health & well-being
• Comprehensive induction and probation support and an ongoing performance management & appraisal system
• Easy purchase scheme (salary deduction) – Smart Tech in association with Currys
• Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme – free, totally confidential advice, with face-to-face consultations
• Personal & professional learning & development – including FLICK online learning and other resources
• Access to discounts and offers from Reward Gateway and MyPerks
• Occupational Health Service – accessible to support the needs of individual staff
• Staff recognition – e-cards to celebrate success among colleagues
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Policies being developed to support positive health & well-being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause
• Staff recognition – awards throughout the year, in line with Trust behaviours and values
• A commitment to develop new ideas to show we really value what you do for our children

 All applicants must be qualified to NVQ level 2 or equivalent and be able to evidence this 

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date. 

Please note that only Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form. 

Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos. Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this post. 

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role. 

The Trust may review applications upon receipt and may call applicants for interview prior to the advert closing date. Therefore, you are encouraged to make an early application for this role and we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date.

Please note that only fully completed Forward Education Trust Application forms will be accepted; we will not read accompanying Curriculum Vitae (CV) or accept them in place of an application form.

If you do not hear from the school within 14 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been shortlisted. The successful applicants will require an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to relevant pre-employment checks.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

 Forward Education Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must promote this ethos.