Job Description

Westfield Arts College

Fixed Term Teaching Assistant

Grade 6 - SCP 6

31.65 hours per week (8.40am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday)

We are looking for an enthusiastic Fixed Term Teaching Assistant to support pupils. Candidates must want to play a full part in the life of the school and enjoy working as part of a friendly and dedicated team. The successful candidate must be flexible and adaptable and be able to support our pupils within the classroom or in small groups. You will need to demonstrate an understanding of the wide range of abilities and must be able to be an effective part of the class team. You may be expected to work in any class across the school.



Understanding a therapeutic approach to managing the needs of our pupils is essential to our Teaching Assistant roles and it is expected that the successful candidate will undertake appropriate training.



Westfield is a highly regarded 4-19, 234 pupil Dorset special school. All pupils have moderate/complex learning difficulties and more than half have a diagnosis of ASD. The successful candidate will be joining a vibrant and successful school. They will also receive the full support of an exceptionally committed and skilful staff team. Ofsted judged us as outstanding in February 2023.



Westfield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Government's safer recruitment guidelines. We value the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.



A job description and on-line application is available here.



Further information about Westfield can be found at www.westfield.dorset.sch.uk

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Closing Date:

Friday 19 September 2025

Interview Date:

Thursday 25 September 2025

Contact:

Julie Rook, Admin Officer (HR)


jrook@westfield.dorset.sch.uk


Westfield Arts College values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.



We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.



The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.



The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.



This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.



This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ's guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.



Keeping Children Safe in Education



Westfield Arts College will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.