Level 2 Teaching Assistant

Job Title: Teaching Assistant – Level 2 Actual Annual Salary: £22,423 - £24,172 Based on hours and weeks worked Full Time Equivalent Salary: £29,812  - £32,138 (CLF Grade C) Based on full time hours, all year round. Contract Type: Permanent Hours: 32.5 hours per week - Part Time, Term Time Only plus Inset days Potential Start Date: November 2026 (Subject to completion of pre-employment checks) An opportunity to use specialist skills and experience to deliver targeted Speech, Language and Communication interventions that enhance learning, engagement and long‑term student success. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Teaching Assistant Level 2 to join Tewkesbury Academy on a permanent basis. This role offers the opportunity to make a lasting and meaningful difference to young people by acting as the school's Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) Champion. The successful candidate will provide high-quality, specialist support to students with speech, language and communication needs, helping to remove barriers to learning, improve engagement, promote inclusion and enhance wellbeing across the secondary curriculum. Working collaboratively with staff, families and external professionals, you will play a key role in ensuring students develop the communication skills and confidence needed to achieve their full potential both academically and socially. Working closely with teachers, SEND colleagues, the Speech and Language Therapist, and wider support teams, you will support the educational, social and emotional development of students with identified communication needs. Using evidence-informed approaches and specialist strategies, you will help students access learning successfully, develop independence and participate fully in school life. You will take responsibility for delivering targeted communication interventions, implementing recommendations from external professionals, monitoring progress and adapting support to meet individual needs. The role will include working with individual students and small groups, contributing to assessment, reporting and provision planning, and helping to ensure that support is tailored, effective and responsive. As the school's SLCN Champion, you will also play an important role in promoting communication-friendly practice across the academy. You will support colleagues in developing their understanding of speech, language and communication needs, share effective strategies, and contribute to creating an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive. Through your work, you will help build staff confidence, strengthen whole-school provision and ensure that communication is recognised as a key foundation for learning, achievement and wellbeing. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced teaching assistant or SEND practitioner who is passionate about supporting young people with additional needs. The role offers the chance to develop specialist expertise, work closely with a range of professionals, influence inclusive practice across the school and make a significant impact on the long-term success, independence and wellbeing of students with speech, language and communication needs. Joining Tewkesbury Academy means becoming part of a dedicated and supportive team committed to ensuring every student is able to achieve, belong and succeed. About you You will have: A strong understanding of the teaching assistant role and how to effectively support learning and behaviour. Experience supporting students one‑to‑one and in small groups, including those with SEND or additional needs. Good planning, organisation and communication skills, including empathy and active listening. Good literacy and numeracy skills (GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent). A relevant Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning (or equivalent), or a commitment to undertake further training. A clear commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and the wellbeing of all students. Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application. About Tewkesbury Academy: Tewkesbury Academy is an exciting place to learn and work within Gloucestershire with a student body of more than 1,000 and upwards of 150 colleagues. We serve the distinctive town of Tewkesbury and surrounding villages, with its renowned historical, musical and ecological festivals each year. The sense of community and connectedness is strong at the academy, as is support from the wider business community, and this is reflected in the plethora of personal development opportunities at the school. Being ready, respectful and responsible is a key tenet of life at Tewkesbury Academy, where we provide a calm and supportive environment and expect commitment and hard work from students and staff alike to ensure that they feel supported and challenged to produce their best. Why work at CLF? We