EAL Support Assistant (English as an Additional Language) - (FTC term time only 32.5 hrs p/w)
Make a real difference to the lives of Afghan children and young people as they begin their education in Bracknell Forest.
Using your language skills, cultural understanding and ability to build positive relationships, you will help children and young people overcome barriers, build confidence and develop a strong sense of belonging within their school communities.
Join Bracknell Forest’s Education and Learning Service and play an important role in helping every child feel welcomed, supported and ready to succeed.
At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices.
This is a term time only role working 32.5 hours per week, on a fixed term contract until 31st July 2027.
Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying. Search ‘secondment policy’ on the intranet for more information.
About you...
As an EAL Support Assistant (English as an Additional Language), you will play an important role in helping children and young people feel confident, included and able to achieve their full potential.
Working closely with schools, families and partner agencies, you will support pupils who speak English as an additional language to overcome barriers to learning and settle successfully into school life.
You will work in a collaborative and supportive environment where your skills, experience and cultural knowledge will be highly valued. We are committed to continuous professional development and supporting staff to deliver the highest standards of service.
About the team...
Working within Education and Learning we are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people and ensuring that every learner can achieve their best possible educational outcomes.
Our EAL Team provide specialist advice, practical support and targeted interventions to help pupils develop their English and communication skills, access the curriculum and build a strong sense of belonging within their school community.
Key responsibilities...
As an EAL Support Assistant you will:
- Support Afghan children and young people to access learning, develop English language skills and thrive in school.
- Facilitate effective communication between pupils, families, schools and professionals through translation and interpreting support.
- Help families understand and engage with the UK education system.
- Work collaboratively with schools, EAL advisers and partner agencies to improve educational outcomes.
- Promote inclusion, safeguarding and the wellbeing of children and young people while monitoring the impact of support provided.
Our benefits...
- Paid employee volunteering scheme.
- Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
- Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
- Career development through internal and external training opportunities.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
- Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club.
Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.
Our values...
At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.
Reasonable adjustments...
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.
Disability confident and inclusive recruitment...
Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer. This means that if you tell us on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
Interview date
Interviews will be held on Friday 23rd October 2026
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Veronica McDonald, Support for Learning Manager
Tel.: 01344 354272
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
This role is not eligible for a sponsored work visa as it does not meet current Home Office sponsorship criteria. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
No agencies please.
Equal Opportunities
Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.