The Bridge School Address: Sprites Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3ND Salary: £19,611 - £20,556 per annum Hours: 35 hours per week, 38 weeks per year, Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4pm Contract: Permanent, required from 10 November 2025 Reference: 7903 This is an exciting opportunity to join The Bridge School, a rapidly improving special school, which joined Unity Schools Partnership multi-academy trust in June 2019. At this exciting time for the school, we are looking for a Teaching Assistant with a passion for SEN to join our friendly, hardworking team and make an impact on the learning of our students. You will need to be flexible and prepared to assist pupils on a one-to-one basis as well as in small groups and whole class settings. The Bridge School is a popular school educating children and young people between the ages of 3 - 16 who have a wide range of communication, physical, and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of the pupils are on the Autistic Spectrum. The school serves a catchment area that covers Ipswich and surrounding areas of Suffolk. The school is part of a collaborative, forward thinking Academy Trust. Unity Schools Partnership will be creating a network of special schools working together, as well as already having special schools in Ipswich and Haverhill. You will be supported in your role by experienced special education leaders who will be available to offer advice and guidance as the school moves forward under their leadership. Significant training and development are available through opportunities for professional development, research, teacher training and collaboration between schools and across phases. For more information Please read the Job Description (pdf) and the Candidate Information Pack (pdf). To arrange a visit or an informal discussion about the role please contact Mel Scrafield, Office Manager by either emailing mel.scrafield@thebridgeschool.org.uk or by calling 01473 556200. How to apply Please complete your application by visiting Unity Schools Partnership’s recruitment website. Closing date: 9am, 7 October 2025. Interviews: 10 October 2025. Please note we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site. In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post. Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can, whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.