Teaching Assistant

Role: Teaching Assistant

Location: Central Bedfordshire College – Dunstable Kingsway Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £23,557 and £25,849 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, People's pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 34.5 hours per week – 36 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Term Time

About the role:

We are currently seeking two Teaching Assistants to join our Foundation Learning and Additional Support department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Teaching Assistant, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• SEND Student Support – Provide one-to-one and small group support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across entry to Level 3 courses, helping them access learning and develop independence.
• Individualised Learning Plans – Implement strategies from students' support plans and EHCPs under the guidance of the ALS Team Leader and teaching staff, contributing to progress tracking and learner reports.
• Resource Preparation & Collaboration – Prepare and maintain learning resources, attend review meetings, and work closely with tutors and EHCP coordinators to meet individual needs.
• Team Engagement & Events – Mentor new staff, support college events such as open days and transitions, and accompany students on work placements and outings.
• Safeguarding & Inclusion – Promote equality, diversity, and safeguarding, ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment while supporting learners both in and out of the classroom.

About you:

• Qualifications & Knowledge – Educated to Level 2 in Maths and English, with a relevant Level 3 qualification (or willingness to work towards), and a working understanding of SEND.
• Experience & Technical Skills – Experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings, and confident using Microsoft Office applications for record-keeping and communication.
• Communication & Teamwork – Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to work independently and collaboratively, contributing positively to a supportive team environment.
• Professionalism & Adaptability – Reliable, flexible, and proactive with a positive attitude, committed to maintaining high performance and promoting the College's reputation.
• Safeguarding & Inclusion – Committed to safeguarding and EDI, able to maintain appropriate boundaries with learners, and willing to work across all college sites as required.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 11 November 2025

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group 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 subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. 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. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.