Job Title:  Level 3 Teaching Assistant & ELSA Support

Actual salary: £20,019 – £21,820 per annum.

Location: Dudley

Hours: 32.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year

Start Date: September 2026

Contact: Alexandra Beddow

In this position, you will lead ELSA programmes and provide focused emotional literacy support to both individuals and small groups of students, promoting their emotional wellbeing, resilience, and interpersonal skills. You will work with pupils who may be emotionally at risk, including those dealing with anxiety, challenges in managing emotions, low confidence, or difficulties in social interaction.

The ideal candidate will:

• Deliver consistent pastoral guidance, including one-to-one mentoring, wellbeing check-ins, and tailored support for selected pupils.
• Assist students experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), or those at risk of persistent absence, in collaboration with the Pastoral Lead.
• Contribute to identifying and addressing obstacles that impact engagement, learning, and attendance.
• Work in partnership with teaching staff to provide in-class support where needed.
• Offer assistance within the autism provision at scheduled times and as required to meet operational demands.

We are looking for someone with a positive and nurturing approach, a good understanding of current pastoral and emotional support practices, a willingness to learn and a genuine desire to contribute as part of an effective and supportive team.

You will be appointed on Grade 5, working 32.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year, on a permanent contract. Your working pattern will be discussed at interview stage.

You will:

• Hold a CACHE Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning (or an equivalent recognised EYFS DfE qualification).
• Have experience working with pupils who present emotional, behavioural, or social needs.
• Be ELSA trained or demonstrate a willingness to undertake the training.
• Be a reflective and effective practitioner, committed to continually developing your skills and practice.
• Demonstrate high expectations of both yourself and the pupils you support.
• Have a strong track record of working collaboratively with class teachers to support positive outcomes and pupil progress.
• Be experienced in providing targeted one-to-one support.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to build positive relationships.
• Be well organised, proactive, and adaptable, with the ability to motivate, inspire, and appropriately challenge pupils.
• Uphold and promote the school’s vision and values, maintaining high standards of professionalism at all times.

About Chalk

At Chalk our direction, and long-term target, is to be the top specialist education agency out there, providing bespoke staffing solutions to schools and education provisions across the UK. We offer a personal service to all of our candidates, listening to your individual needs and taking into account your special requirements.

We recruit SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) staff for both mainstream schools, Special Needs Schools, and alternative provisions, filling short-term, long-term and permanent vacancies. If you are looking for an honest, professional, and committed attitude, then give Chalk a chance to earn your trust.

The Legal Bit

Chalk is an education recruitment agency committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people. Chalk promotes equal opportunities and diversity for employees, workers, and applicants. We follow new GDPR laws to ensure the protection and privacy of your data.

Please note that the advertised pay rate is inclusive of holiday pay.