ROLE  Teaching Assistant Level 3

Salary Range: Grade E - Between FTE £27,362 - £33,898 / Actual £20,956 - £25,916 + SEN Allowance

Location: The Bridge School, 36 Coppice View Rd, The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, B73 6UE

Contract: Full time, Permanent, Term-Time Only (Part time applicants will be considered for suitable applicants)

Start Date: 13 April 2026

Job Overview:

We are Forward Thinking, we are Ambitious, we are Principled, we are Motivated, we are Trustworthy and we are Nurturers of Talent!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Teaching Assistant Level 3 to join The Bridge School. 

At The Bridge School, every pupil has a Statement of Special Educational Need or an Education, Health and Care Plan. We specialise in supporting children with complex and multiple needs, including Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), alongside additional needs such as visual or hearing impairment and behaviours requiring skilled, compassionate support.

What makes The Bridge School such a rewarding place to work is our unwavering belief in potential. Guided by our motto, “Be the Best You Can Be!”, we hold high aspirations for every child — and for one another as professionals.

Our carefully designed, future-focused, play-based curriculum is personalised and ambitious. It includes an overarching mobility curriculum and a rich sensory experiential pathway for our most profound learners. Communication underpins everything we do, ensuring every pupil can access learning in a way that is meaningful to them. We prioritise independence, life skills and preparation for adulthood at every stage.

Learning extends beyond the classroom through purposeful trips, inspiring visitors and inclusive whole-school events that broaden experiences and build confidence.

At The Bridge School, you will be part of a dedicated, supportive team working in close partnership with families and professionals, immersed in the principles of the Birmingham Curriculum Statement and British Values. Together, we create a nurturing, aspirational environment where children — and staff — truly can Be the Best They Can Be.

Teaching Assistants are responsible for supporting and leading small groups and individuals with Maths, English, Reading, SEMH, vocational and practical activities, supporting pupils to develop resilience, social skills and self-esteem, and deploying effective strategies for supporting pupils with a range of behavioural needs.

The successful candidate will:

• Providing support into pupils across the school, adhering to safeguarding policies and procedures.           

• Supervising groups and occasionally whole classes for a session

• Providing a high standard of nurturing and education, through quality interactions and by developing strong, authentic relationships, for all children within our school. As well as on a one-to-one basis if required.

• Being proactive, flexible and a reliable team player, offering support to colleagues when required.

• Building and maintain strong relationships with all to enable all children to flourish and our communities’ needs are at the forefront of all we do.

• Helping the children to make progress working closely with a supportive and experienced team, as well as other external professionals. You will regularly feedback to both the class teacher, SLT and your colleagues regarding children’s progress and general wellbeing.

• NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualifications or experience would be desirable 

All applications:  All Applicants In line with our commitment to safeguarding will be subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, proof of the right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from at least your last two employers, evidence of required qualifications and medical clearance 

 Competitive Benefits: 

Forward Education Trust is committed to recruiting and retaining the highest quality staff. To do this, we have an Employee Value Proposition offering a range of benefits to help our staff on a personal and professional level, which includes:

• 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

• Comprehensive induction and probation support and an ongoing performance management & appraisal system

• 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 My Perks

• 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 are developed and reviewed to support positive health & well-being: Family Friendly Working, Special Leave of Absence, Flexible Working, Menopause

• Our well-being support for Assistant Headteachers focuses on managing accountability, workload, and emotional intelligence through professional supervision, peer mentoring, and a supportive organisational culture

• 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 

Closing Date for Applications: Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Interview Date: TBC

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.  

An online search will also be carried out for all shortlisted candidates.

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.

The successful candidate will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Childcare Disqualification; qualifications, medical fitness; identity and right to work and two references.