DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Salary: £25,202 - £27,065 (FTE £29,432 - £31,607) OHC&AT Support Staff pay scale, Outer London, Grade 3/4
Location: Addington Valley Academy, Field Way, New Addington, CR0 9AZ
Working Pattern: 36 hours per week: Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 4.15pm Friday 8.30am – 4pm
Are you looking for somewhere truly special to work? A place where you can help make special happen every single day for students with autism and severe learning difficulties? Addington Valley Academy is a special free school in Croydon for children and young people aged 4 to19 with autism and complex learning needs. Since opening, we have grown into a vibrant community, offering places for students with a wide range of social communication, cognitive, sensory, emotional, and behavioural needs.
The new purpose designed school is equipped to meet the needs of students and includes sensory gardens, indoor sensory rooms, soft-play area, and a large cookery room along with other facilities to encourage students to learn skills to live independently. Students access specialist support enabling them to learn and achieve in a nurturing and aspirational environment.
At Addington Valley Academy, special happens through the passion of our staff, the progress of our students, and the shared commitment to creating the best possible outcomes for every learner. It’s a rewarding, inspiring place to work – where your dedication can truly make a difference.
We are looking for a caring and committed Teaching Assistant to support our students' educational journey. Your day-to-day assistance will be crucial in providing the help and encouragement students need to thrive in a supportive classroom environment.
Key Responsibilities:
•To ssupervise and provide particular support for pupils, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities.
•To follow the guidelines for individual support, personal care needs and medical interventions (including but not exclusively administering medication)
•Use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support pupils to achieve learning goals.
•Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses.
•Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use.
•Promote good student behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established values and policy.
Key Requirements:
•Be able to follow the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and procedures and undertake mandatory Safeguarding training as directed by the school.
•Have experience and understanding of practice and principles for Safeguarding children within an educational setting.
•English and maths at Level 2 (GCSE Grade C or 4 above) or functional skills or a willingness to undertake a functional skills qualification.
•NVQ 2 and/or equivalent qualification in relevant area.
•First aid training / training in specific medical procedures as appropriate
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
•Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
•Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
•Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
•Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
•Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
•Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust:
Addington Valley Academy is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.
Closing Date: Friday 8th May 2026
Interviews will take place on: Week commencing Monday 18th May 2026
To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.