• Job Description

  Req#: F0041-4080?language=en&page=850&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Salary:£26,409 - £27,711 pro rata

  Hours per week:21 hours

  Interview date:Thursday 12 June 2025

  Education and Skills - Building Bright Futures

  Our esteemed Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement team are searching for a dedicated Teaching Assistant to provide invaluable support to pupils from Traveller heritages across Wiltshire.

  Main duties of the job

  This exciting opportunity allows you to leverage your skills to empower Traveller children, foster positive partnerships with families, and contribute to their academic success.

  As a Specialist Teaching Assistant, you will be based in various schools throughout the county. Your primary role is to enable effective curriculum access for students, providing vital guidance to school staff and helping them meet the unique requirements of each student to support their education. Additionally, you will bridge the gap between schools and families, enhancing parental involvement in students' academic journeys.

  You will have knowledge and experience of the English education system, knowledge of (or at least a willingness to learn about) Traveller cultures and a strong commitment to inclusion, equality and improving the outcomes for young people. You will have a good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant experience. Applications from candidates of Traveller heritage would be very welcome.

  About us

  Why us?

  Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Thats why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.Explore more benefits here!

  Details

  Date posted

  19 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  £26,409 to £27,711 a year pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Term time hours

  Reference number

  F0041-4080

  Job locations

  County Hall

  Bythesea Rd

  Trowbridge

  Wiltshire

  BA14 8JN

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Specific duties and responsibilities include: Role with parents and children:

  To provide support within the classroom, in group sessions and in 1 to 1 sessions to improve the achievement of children from all Traveller backgrounds.

  When appropriate, to assist with or lead targeted intervention with children from Traveller backgrounds. To plan and deliver learning experiences well-adapted to individual childrens academic and cultural needs. To support pupils learning through encouraging motivation and building self-esteem.

  To establish a supportive and trusting relationship with the children and their parents which offers an appropriate level of support through listening, advice and guidance.

  To liaise with parents and education professionals about the particular needs of individual children and how they can be met.

  To help parents to understand the education system, what they can expect of schools, and what schools expect of parents.

  To encourage and support families in ensuring regular school attendance. To help to plan and deliver effective induction programmes for children from Traveller backgrounds. To collect and record progress data of children receiving support.

  To promote understanding and celebration of Traveller culture within the wider student body. Role with school staff:

  To raise staff awareness of the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of pupils.

  To help schools access advice on good practice regarding EAL, diversity and equality issues.

  To assist in the planning and delivery of cultural awareness training.

  To keep a written record of each session and provide regular feedback to EMTAS and school staff as appropriate.

  To facilitate effective partnerships between home and school, including supporting school colleagues and other professionals on visits to Traveller sites and other home visits.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Specific duties and responsibilities include: Role with parents and children:

  To provide support within the classroom, in group sessions and in 1 to 1 sessions to improve the achievement of children from all Traveller backgrounds.

  When appropriate, to assist with or lead targeted intervention with children from Traveller backgrounds. To plan and deliver learning experiences well-adapted to individual childrens academic and cultural needs. To support pupils learning through encouraging motivation and building self-esteem.

  To establish a supportive and trusting relationship with the children and their parents which offers an appropriate level of support through listening, advice and guidance.

  To liaise with parents and education professionals about the particular needs of individual children and how they can be met.

  To help parents to understand the education system, what they can expect of schools, and what schools expect of parents.

  To encourage and support families in ensuring regular school attendance. To help to plan and deliver effective induction programmes for children from Traveller backgrounds. To collect and record progress data of children receiving support.

  To promote understanding and celebration of Traveller culture within the wider student body. Role with school staff:

  To raise staff awareness of the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of pupils.

  To help schools access advice on good practice regarding EAL, diversity and equality issues.

  To assist in the planning and delivery of cultural awareness training.

  To keep a written record of each session and provide regular feedback to EMTAS and school staff as appropriate.

  To facilitate effective partnerships between home and school, including supporting school colleagues and other professionals on visits to Traveller sites and other home visits.

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous relevant and practical experience.
  • A thorough understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
  • Good knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
  • Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
  • Practical knowledge of a range of procedures and specialist medical / equipment to support
  • clients.
  • Good knowledge of Wiltshire Council professional groups and external agencies as relevant to
  • the role.
  • Ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with a range of people.
  • Sensitivity and empathy to build trusting and supportive relationships with clients and families.
  • Care skills and basic knowledge of mobility, nutrition and financial issues in order to provide
  • practical, emotional support to clients and families.
  • Proven ability to follow routines, carry out set care plans, record and monitor changes in client
  • condition.
  • Ability to manage challenging behaviour in clients.
  • Good literacy and numeracy.
  • Proven ability to communicate one to one and in small groups with relevant client group.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
  • experience.
  • Ability to relate well to children and adults.
  • Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
  • educational team.
  • Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
  • An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
  • backgrounds.
  • An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
  • Experience of working with minority communities.
  • Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
  • experience.
  • Ability to relate well to children and adults.
  • Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
  • educational team.
  • Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
  • An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
  • backgrounds.
  • An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
  • Experience of working with minority communities.
  • Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

  Person Specification

  Experience

  Essential

  • Previous relevant and practical experience.
  • A thorough understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
  • Good knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
  • Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
  • Practical knowledge of a range of procedures and specialist medical / equipment to support
  • clients.
  • Good knowledge of Wiltshire Council professional groups and external agencies as relevant to
  • the role.
  • Ability to build and maintain constructive working relationships with a range of people.
  • Sensitivity and empathy to build trusting and supportive relationships with clients and families.
  • Care skills and basic knowledge of mobility, nutrition and financial issues in order to provide
  • practical, emotional support to clients and families.
  • Proven ability to follow routines, carry out set care plans, record and monitor changes in client
  • condition.
  • Ability to manage challenging behaviour in clients.
  • Good literacy and numeracy.
  • Proven ability to communicate one to one and in small groups with relevant client group.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
  • experience.
  • Ability to relate well to children and adults.
  • Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
  • educational team.
  • Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
  • An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
  • backgrounds.
  • An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
  • Experience of working with minority communities.
  • Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Good standard of education to NQF level 3 (e.g. A Level) or equivalent or relevant
  • experience.
  • Ability to relate well to children and adults.
  • Experience of working effectively in a support role or similar within a school or local authority
  • educational team.
  • Evidence of ability to work both as a team member in schools and also on own initiative.
  • Good communication skills (oral and written) in English.
  • An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by children and families from Traveller
  • backgrounds.
  • An understanding of the cultural background of travelling communities.

  Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of delivering the current English national curriculum.
  • Experience of working with minority communities.
  • Lived experience of Traveller cultures and lifestyles.

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Wiltshire Council

  Address

  County Hall

  Bythesea Rd

  Trowbridge

  Wiltshire

  BA14 8JN

  
  

  Employer's website

  http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Wiltshire Council

  Address

  County Hall

  Bythesea Rd

  Trowbridge

  Wiltshire

  BA14 8JN

  
  

  Employer's website

  http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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