Teaching Assistant (SEND) x 2
About us:
High Well School is a SEND school which caters for 9-16-year-olds with an Education Health & Care Plan for severe and profound social, emotional, and mental health needs as well as other learning difficulties. The school meets the needs of some of Wakefield’s most complex and vulnerable young people. We are a growing school on our journey to be outstanding.
Our team endeavours to provide a nurturing environment with personalised support and specialist teaching to enable all pupils to re-engage in learning, develop their social and emotional skills, and leave with not only appropriate qualifications but the skills required to succeed in life after school. This is reflected in our vision of ‘Preparing for Positive Futures.’
Overview of the role:
We are seeking to appoint a talented and committed Teaching Assistant to work on a 1:2:1 basis or be classroom based. These roles will be permanent subject to the successful completion of Maths and English Level 2, or equivalent by 31.08.2026, and will play a crucial role in the support, teaching and learning of our students. We believe that this presents a great opportunity for exceptional individuals to join our dedicated and highly skilled school team.
We were last inspected by OFSTED in 2022 as a ‘Good’ school. Just like our long-term members of staff you will have many great opportunities to develop your career at High Well as we invest heavily in staff development and be provided with access to tailored HR, CPD and support services – We always support your wellbeing and even give you a paid wellbeing day off.
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Good communication skills along with the ability to work as part of a team or independently using your own initiative
- Initiative to organise all teaching equipment, is in safe working order and secure at all times
- Ability to provide general support with learning activities
- Skills in supporting the positive management of behaviour, interventions and reward
- Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
- Under the direction and supervision of a Teacher or Line Manager (e.g. Higher Level Teaching Assistant) provide particular support for individual pupils or groups of pupils with special educational needs ensuring their safety and access to learning activities and to support their integration into mainstream education as appropriate.
Personal attributes
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Essential |
Desirable |
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Qualifications/ Training
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GCSE Grade A-C Maths & English or equivalent, eg, Level 2 Numeracy & Literacy Qualified or willing to work towards Support Work in Schools (S.W.I.S.) Level 2
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Supporting Pupils with S.E.N. 2 or 3 Or Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools Level 3 Team Teach qualification First aid qualification
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Knowledge
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Appropriate knowledge of first aid
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Use of Technology e.g ICT. Child Protection issues Health, Safety & Security issues. Data Protection issues |
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Experience
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Working with or caring for children |
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Physical Skills
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Effective use of resources |
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Competencies and other skills required
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The ability to relate well with children with special educational needs
The ability to work with adults.
The ability to work as a member of a team.
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Experience of an SEMH education environment |
Key outcomes / Activities:
- To provide particular support for individual pupils or groups of pupils with special educational needs assisting with their learning activities, providing supervision and care.
- Where appropriate to support the integration of pupils into mainstream education.
- To assist with the personal needs of pupils including social, health, physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters. This includes toilet training, feeding and positioning.
- To carry out medical procedures including administering medication, undertaking specialist feeding programmes and suctioning procedures. (These duties are to be undertaken following appropriate training).
- To prepare the classroom as directed for lessons and to clear afterwards.
- To assist with the display of work.
- To report to the teacher or line manager any pupil problems or behavioural difficulties in accordance with school policy.
- To report to the teacher or line manager on pupil progress and achievements in accordance with school policy.
- To assist the teacher or the line manager by contributing as directed to a pupils’ individual behaviour/education plan.
- To provide or gather routine information to or from parents/carers under the direction of the teacher or line manager.
- To provide general support with learning activities (e.g. literacy, numeracy, KS3, early years) to enable pupils to understand instructions and to ensure they remain on task.
- To assist with the maintenance of equipment and resources.
- To assist pupils in using resources e.g. ICT.
- To assist with the supervision of pupils outside of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtimes. These duties shall be undertaken within the postholder’s contractual hours.
- To participate in school visits, assisting with activities as required.
- To undertake routine clerical duties including bulk photocopying and collecting dinner monies.
Other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as directed by the Headteacher/ Principal.
The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this Job Specification are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and scope of the post and the grade has been established on this basis.
Responsibility for Resources
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Employees (Supervision): None |
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Financial: None |
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Physical: Effective use of learning materials and resources.
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Customers and Clients: The post involves some direct impact on the well being of pupils through undertaking tasks or duties related to the post.
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Working Conditions: |
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The post holder may be subject to some exposure to disagreeable or unpleasant people related behaviour. The post involves contact with people which through their circumstances or behaviour occasionally places emotional demands on post holder. The nature of the post may involve periodic requirements for considerable effort, e.g. lifting or carrying of children.
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Characteristics of the post: The ability to occasionally attend meetings as required by the Headteacher/Line Manager. Employees are encouraged to participate in training activities in order to enhance their own personal development. All employees of a school have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. The employment checks are required:
The following employment checks are required for those positions which are based in a school or working with vulnerable young people and adults: Evidence of a satisfactory safeguarding check e.g. An Enhanced DBS Disclosure |
Salary & Benefits
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Post title |
Teaching Assistant |
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Location |
High Well School Rookhill Road Pontefract West Yorkshire WF8 2DD |
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Salary & Grade |
G5 SCP 7 - 11 £22,357 to £23,455 (Actual) |
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Hours |
34 hours / week Term Time + 5 Inset days |
Location
High Well School
Rookhill Road
Pontefract
West Yorkshire
WF8 2DD
Supporting documents
Deadline and how to apply
Closing date for applications is 18 May 2026 at 12:00pm
High Well School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants for the post must be fully committed to ensuring the safety, protection, and wellbeing of every pupil, and to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding practice across the school.
As part of our safer recruitment processes:
- All appointments are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check of the Children’s Barred List
- We may carry out online checks for shortlisted candidates in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
- References will be requested prior to interview and may be verified
- Identity, qualifications, and right to work checks will be required
- Gaps in employment history will be explored during the selection process
By submitting an application, candidates confirm their understanding of these requirements and their commitment to safeguarding the children and young people in our care.
If you share our vision for improving the lives of our pupils, believe you meet the criteria for the role outlined in the job description and would like to submit an application, please complete the attached application form and submit it to recruitment@highwell.org.uk by 18 May 2026 at 12:00pm
Applications can also be submitted via Wakefield Council jobs portal
Equal opportunities
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is committed to promoting equality, inclusiveness and social justice for all its citizens and staff. We will work positively to achieve this by challenging all forms of discrimination, exclusion and injustice. The Council values the rich social and cultural diversity of the district's communities. We will make sure that our workforce and our services reflect that diversity and community needs.
To assist Wakefield Metropolitan District Council to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness in relation to equal opportunities, and for no other reason, applicants are requested to complete and return the Recruitment Monitoring Form. The details supplied are held in confidence and are not used in anyway in the recruitment and selection process.
As a Disability Confident Symbol User Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum (essential) criteria.
Job reference: HR_TA20260505