1:1 Teaching Assistant

1:1 Teaching Assistant

£14,440 - £14,667 per annum, actual. (FTE £25,614 - £26,016)

FTC until 31st August 2027

25 hours per week, Term time only

Behind every confident child is someone who took the time to understand them…

The adult who notices the small breakthroughs, offers encouragement at just the right moment, and quietly helps a child believe “I can do this.” The one who celebrates every success, no matter how small and understands that sometimes the biggest achievements don’t come with applause, but with a smile, a step forward, or a moment of courage.

At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Bridgwater, supporting children is about more than helping them access the curriculum. It’s about building trust, nurturing confidence and creating a safe, encouraging space where every child feels understood, valued and of success.

St Joseph’s is a caring, friendly and ambitious school where happy children develop a genuine love of learning. Guided by our values of 'stewardship, respect, curiosity, resilience, forgiveness, and love', we nurture independent thinkers and resilient learners who feel confident in who they are and what they can achieve.

We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated 1:1 Teaching Assistant to work closely with a Year 6 pupil, helping them to thrive both academically and personally within our school community.

We are looking for someone who:

• Builds strong, trusting relationships and takes time to really understand a child’s needs
• Has patience, empathy and a calm, encouraging approach
• Is comfortable providing intimate care as required
• Can adapt learning and explain things in a way that makes sense to the child they are supporting
• Uses praise, reassurance and gentle challenge to help develop confidence and independence
• Enjoys celebrating progress in all its forms - big and small
• Works well as part of a team, collaborating with teachers, the SENDCo and other professionals
• Is observant and reflective, able to respond to a child’s needs in the moment
• Supports positive behaviour with consistency, kindness and clear expectations
• Is committed to inclusion and believes every child deserves to feel successful
• Brings warmth, positivity and a good sense of humour - to each day

At St Joseph’s, you will find:

• Children who are kind, welcoming and eager to learn
• A supportive and collaborative staff team who value one another
• A school where wellbeing, care and professional trust matter
• Opportunities to develop your skills and understanding of SEND
• A strong sense of community where every individual is known and valued

St Joseph’s is proud to be part of The Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, offering opportunities for development and collaboration across a family of schools throughout the South West.

If you are someone who understands that making a difference often comes through patience, encouragement and building meaningful relationships - and who finds joy in helping a child grow in confidence and independence - we would love to hear from you.

We welcome and encourage visits from prospective applicants. Please contact our School Office Team on 01278 422786 or send an email to office@sjbw.thedcet.com to arrange a visit.  

Closing date: 9am, Monday 16th November 2026

Interview date: w/c 23rd November 2026

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.