Higford School
England
Salary:
Up to £22,300.00 per annum
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
17 October 2025
Job overview
How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?
Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).
If the trial is a success, we'll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there's never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG
Job Title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Higford School, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9ET
Salary: £22,300.00 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Requirements: UK applicants only (this role does not offer sponsorship). All applicants must hold a full UK Driving Licence.
As part of our continued growth, we are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated team at Higford School, part of Options Autism.
About the Role
This is a rewarding role where you will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Our pupils are incredible individuals, each with a diagnosis of Autism and often additional needs. They have enormous potential, and with your support, they will achieve far more than they ever thought possible.
You'll be working directly with pupils, helping them access education through bespoke, tailored support. From preparing learning materials and running classroom activities, to supporting with social and emotional needs, you'll make sure every child feels safe, understood, and inspired to learn.
No two days are ever the same. One day you might be helping in the classroom, the next leading outdoor experiences, or supporting students as they explore new environments. Through it all, you'll receive strong guidance and training to help you grow, with the support of colleagues who share your passion and dedication.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for people with a caring, adaptable, and resilient approach, who are motivated by helping pupils live happy, fulfilling lives.
You don't need prior experience working in SEN – we'll provide all the training you need – but you should be eager to learn and ready to work flexibly across different classroom and outdoor settings.
Most importantly, you'll be someone who thrives as part of a supportive team, sharing ideas and learning as you go, while building strong, positive relationships with pupils, families, and colleagues.
About Us
Options Higford is a special school set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside. We provide a high quality, holistic education for up to 60 autistic students who also have associated behavioural needs. Class groups have five students in with at least 1:1 staffing. We provide personalised curriculums for each student based on their individual needs and aim to support them to make progress academically, socially, with skills for life, regulating their emotions and accessing the community.
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
"Your Wellbeing Matters" – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
* You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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About Higford School
Higford School
Higford Hall, Shifnal
Shropshire
TF11 9ET
United Kingdom
Higford is a DfE registered School, offering day and residential placements and has achieved Autism Accreditation with the National Autistic Society for Quality Autism provision. We offer adapted and differentiated access to the National Curriculum for students at key stage 2-4, supplemented by ASDAN programmes 'New Horizons' and 'Transition Challenge'. For students at key stage 5 we offer a vocational and life-skills curriculum, based around the ASDAN 'Personal Progress' award, supplemented by additional units of work or accredited programmes as appropriate, including community
We offer an exceptional range of activities and amenities designed to promote the development of life skills and apply learning across a range of contexts. These include:
* Classrooms designed specifically for young people with autism and complex needs
* A 'Sensory Hub' made up of a range of different sensory rooms in which students can explore new sensory experiences and take control of their environments, including a water play room, wellbeing room, sensory room, health hub (incorporating sauna and gym) and soft play room
* A sports hall and ball-court for PE and sporting activities
* A bistro area for shared dining
* Outdoor facilities including a sunken trampoline, playground, climbing-frame, swings and extensive grounds where students can engage in adventurous physical activity
Our multi-disciplinary team approach offers a holistic service based on sound knowledge and understanding of autism and what works in supporting learning for people with Autism and additional needs. Our clinical team is based on-site and includes speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and nursing services. We offer a high ratio of staff to pupils, generally 1:1 support provided with a class of up to 5 students. All staff have comprehensive training, focusing on the specialist knowledge necessary to support the complex needs of our students.
We aim to ensure we support the development of young people who are: happy and confident with a positive self-esteem, able to learn independently and cooperatively, independent and sociable, able to communicate their feelings, wishes and needs and are able to make choices, manage their own behaviour and enjoy life.
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