Position: Secondary Teaching Assistant
Location: Rhondda Cynon Taf
Contract: Full-time / Term-time only
Start Date: January 2026
Salary: £89.38 - £100 Dependent on experience
-----------------------------------
About the Role
We are seeking a dedicated and resilient Secondary Teaching Assistant to join our supportive school community in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT). This role involves working closely with pupils who display challenging behaviour, providing both academic support in the classroom and one-to-one mentoring outside of lessons.
You will work alongside teachers, pastoral staff, and the SEN/ALN team to help pupils overcome barriers to learning, build positive relationships, and develop strategies for managing behaviour and emotions.
-----------------------------------
Key Responsibilities
* Support pupils with a range of behavioural, emotional, and social needs in a secondary school setting.
* Build trusting relationships and act as a mentor for identified pupils, delivering structured support sessions.
* Assist the class teacher in delivering tailored learning activities and differentiated work.
* Promote positive behaviour strategies and encourage engagement in learning.
* Help maintain a safe, calm, and inclusive learning environment.
* Work collaboratively with teachers, pastoral leads, parents/carers, and external agencies when needed.
* Track and record pupil progress, behaviour, and mentoring outcomes.
-----------------------------------
Person Specification
Essential:
* Experience working with young people, ideally within education or youth work.
* Confidence managing challenging behaviour and de-escalating situations calmly.
* Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
* Empathy, patience, and a genuine commitment to supporting vulnerable learners.
* Ability to work well as part of a team.
Desirable:
* Experience in a secondary school setting.
* Knowledge of ALN, SEMH, or trauma-informed practice.
* Relevant qualifications (e.g., Teaching Assistant Level 2/3, Youth Work).
-----------------------------------
What We Offer
* A supportive and collaborative school environment.
* Opportunities for career development and progression.
* The chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across RCT.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.