Educational Support Assistant
As an Educational Support Assistant, you’ll be providing direct support to learners with a range of physical or learning needs, helping them to progress both academically and personally. You’ll assist with personal care and medical needs, including catheter care, with full training and guidance provided. Working closely with learners, you’ll help them to build their literacy, numeracy, organisational, and ICT skills, while also encouraging independence through improved time management and problem solving. You’ll support students both in the classroom and during wider college activities, trips, and visits, ensuring every learner has access to an inclusive and engaging experience. You’ll also help adapt learning materials into accessible formats and contribute to maintaining a safe, positive, and encouraging learning environment in line with the college’s values.
Key Responsibilities
The Educational Support Assistant will be expected to:
- provide medical support and personal care assistance to individual students - with appropriate guidance and training, as and when directed by a member of the management team;
- provide catheter care support to a learner with a physical disability;
- help the student with the organisation of files;
- aid the student with time management and personal organisation;
- encourage and support the student to develop a range of information gathering skills;
- provide the student with help in understanding oral and written instruction;
- accompany individuals/small groups on residential trips and visits where necessary;
- encourage the student to develop good ICT skills for the presentation of assignments;
- provide break and/or lunch supervision; as and when required or directed by a member of the
- management team;
- provide one to one or general class support based upon student need and skills match;
- transcribe materials into accessible formats when necessary;
- carry out any other duties as directed by the Principal/Chief Executive commensurate with the grade of the post at the initial place of work or other locations within the College.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Essential Criteria:
- GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths (minimum Grade C).
- First Aid at Work and Manual Handling qualifications (or willingness to achieve these soon after appointment).
- Experience supporting individuals with additional learning needs.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills.
- A caring, flexible, and proactive approach with a genuine commitment to learner success.
- Basic computer literacy and confidence using digital tools.
- A willingness to work across college campuses if required.
- Desirable: Food Safety Certificate and/or British Sign Language (or other communication) qualification.
Desirable Criteria:
- Food Safety Certificate (If you are not qualified in Food safety, you will be expected to undertake this training as soon as possible)
- British Sign Language Qualification or any other communication qualification
Welsh Language Requirements:
- Welsh Oracy (Listening/Speaking) - Level 0/1 Essential
- Welsh Literacy (Writing/Reading) - Level 0/1 Essential
(See detailed language descriptions attached)
Benefits
- You will receive 28 days holiday, plus bank holidays and five closure days which totals at 41 days holiday per year. You also receive an additional 4 days after 5 years service.
- Extremely generous pension scheme with employer contributions of 20%.
- Award-winning professional learning and development programme.
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free on-site car parking
- Online and instore retail discounts
About Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion
Coleg Sir Gâr was created in 1985 and became a corporate institution in 1993. In 2013 it became Coleg Sir Gar Ltd, a company within the University of Wales: Trinity Saint David Group, and part of a regional Dual Sector University. The College has an annual turnover of over £35m and employs around 800 staff.
Coleg Ceredigion was created in 1985 and became a corporate institution in 1993. The college merged with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David as a subsidiary company in 2014. The college has an annual turnover of £6m and employs around 180 staff.
Coleg Ceredigion was created in 1985 and became a corporate institution in 1993. The college merged with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David as a subsidiary company in 2014. The college has an annual turnover of £6m and employs around 180 staff.
The College is based in South West Wales and has seven main campuses at Llanelli (Graig), Carmarthen (Pibwrlwyd and Jobs Well), Ammanford, Llandeilo (Gelli Aur), Aberystwyth and Cardigan. The College is also home to Carmarthen School of Art which has its origins dating back to 1854.
Inspiring Learners
Fulfilling Potential
Achieving Excellence
Fulfilling Potential
Achieving Excellence
Documents
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
At Coleg Sir Gar & Coleg Ceredigion, we inspire learners to fulfil potential and achieve excellence. To do this, we need the best employees to continue our culture of respect, unity and professionalism. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds and areas of the community to the college.
Visit our dedicated page to find out more.
Disability Confident
Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion are proud to be a disability confident employer. As a result, we ensure our recruitment process is fully inclusive and accessible to all, communicate and promote all opportunities, anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments, support existing employees who acquire a disability or long term health condition to stay in work, and offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job.
Our Hiring Process
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