Role: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Support Assistant – Ongoing Recruitment
Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus
Salary: Salary is £12.21 per hour
Hours/Weeks: Up to 30 hours per week
Contract Type: Fixed Term – Term Time – Fixed until 26 June 2026
This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Support Assistant to join our Foundation Learning and Additional Learning Support department at The Bedford College Group.
As a SEND Support Assistant, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Role Purpose – Support students with SEND to access learning and college facilities, promote independence, and contribute to their personal and educational development.
2. Student Support – Provide 1:1 or small group assistance in line with individual support plans, prepare resources, and deliver personal care and medication where required.
3. Collaboration & Communication – Work under the direction of ALS leaders and teaching staff, maintain accurate records (support cards, ISPs, reports), and build positive relationships with students and staff.
4. College Engagement – Participate in meetings, open days, and college-wide activities; assist with policy implementation and contribute to continuous improvement within the ALS team.
5. Statutory Duties – Uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion, and health & safety standards; engage in training and development to maintain compliance and professional expertise.
About you:
6. Qualifications – Educated to Level 2 in Maths and English.
7. Knowledge & Experience – Working knowledge of SEND; experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings; proficiency in Microsoft Office.
8. Core Skills – Ability to deliver high-quality learning experiences, maintain accurate records, communicate effectively (face-to-face, written, telephone), and work independently while contributing positively to a team.
9. Values & Attributes – Positive and adaptable attitude; commitment to safeguarding and professional boundaries; willingness to work across sites and promote the College’s reputation.
10. Additional Requirements – Responsibility for safeguarding children and young people; ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships; readiness to uphold health, safety, and equality standards.
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: Ongoing
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
11. 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.
12. Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
13. 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.
14. Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
15. 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.
16. Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
What is an Associate?
Associates work on a short term basis as assigned. They teach or provide support services and they work with and are supported by core staff. As an Associate you will be issued with an Associate agreement, under this Agreement period you will be eligible to work on assignments offered to you. Typically an agreement runs from January to December and may be renewed thereafter.
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.