Summary
Posted: 01 Aug 2025
Closing Date: 10 Aug 2025
Newport Live is seeking to appoint a Teaching Assistant to work across its Aspire Programme. Aspire is an alternative education programme for Year 10 and 11 pupils from John Frost, Lliswerry, Llanwern and Newport High Schools, funded by Newport City Council’s Education Department. Our Aspire team are young person focussed, provide support, wellbeing, education, vocational qualifications, and a youth work approach with our referred young people. Aspire operates from community centre locations close to the schools, with groups of 12 pupils per site being supported to improve their education, citizenship, wellbeing, and their personal plans for the future including their next steps after school. The Aspire team consists of ten staff, including management support from two Senior Youth Development Officers, and a lead Youth Development Officer and Teaching Assistant at each setting, working in partnership with the schools GCSE Teaching staff and a School Teaching Assistant day to day. The work is equally challenging and hugely rewarding! This is an established alternative education programme and partnership with Newport City Council, managed by Newport Live, which is a forward-thinking charity providing a wide range of innovative and exciting services for children, young people, families and adults in the City of Newport. We are looking for somebody with a great attitude, who can support young people, who has some experience working in an Education, Youth or a Community supporting role, and who is passionate about making a difference to young people’s lives! The role is fixed term initially until the 31st July 2027, where we hope to continue our partnership with Education. Interviews are planned for 14 August 2025.
Hours, Pay and Benefits
Hours: 37 per week; there is a requirement for working flexibly as and when required
Salary: £24,242 per annum (pro rata)
Contract: Term-time plus four weeks' basis (42-week year). Fixed Term contract to 31 July 2027.
Benefits: Free Newport Live membership, generous pension scheme, cafe discount, uniform provided, free on-site parking, company sick pay, cycle to work scheme and wellbeing programmes.
Key Experiences and Qualifications
Essential Qualifications and Experience
1. Five GCSEs grade A-C (or equivalent) OR
2. NVQ Level 2 (or similar) Teaching Assistant qualification
3. Experience working with young people aged 11-18
4. Experience working within an educational environment
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
5. Ability to converse / communicate in Welsh
6. First Aid Certificate (essential to the role but not to your application)
7. NVQ qualification in a relevant subject area
8. NGB Sports Award
9. Experience of working with and supporting young people with additional needs
Role Requirements
As an Aspire Teaching Assistant, you will be passionate about engaging and supporting the learners in the programme, as part of a fantastic team of teachers and qualified youth workers. You will deliver the learners qualifications, pastoral care and support alongside a lead worker for the Aspire community site, and you will help represent the Aspire team within multi-agency and school meetings.
This is a fast-paced environment which can be challenging at times; full appreciation and understanding of the additional needs and barriers that some of these learners may experience is essential.
Main Duties
10. Providing high quality learning support for all learners on the Aspire programme
11. Safe preparation of the learning environment, equipment, and session delivery as required
12. Ensure learners achieve their agreed qualifications and personal development outcomes
13. Develop one-to-one mentoring relationships with learners where necessary
14. Providing effective feedback to learners in relation to their progress, and recognition of achievements
15. Promoting positivity and respect amongst the learners; managing and supporting behaviour and engagement with an inclusive approach
16. Support the use of ICT / digital assets in learning activities, and developing learners' competence and independence in use
17. Participate in meetings with parents / guardians and contribute to independent development plans
18. Awareness of and compliance with policies and procedures relating to inclusion, safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection
19. Commitment to personal performance and development, completing all training programmes required to carry out the role successfully (including attendance at appropriate external training courses)