DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Salary: 1C/3, SP: 9 – 18, Actual £24,163.05 – £25,562.24 (FTE £28,218- £29,852)
Location(S): Working across all locations.
The Link School – Primary, 138 Croydon Road, Beddington CR0 4PG,
The Link School – Secondary, 82-86 Croydon Road, Beddington, CR0 4PD,
The Link School – Satellite, Mollison Drive, Wallington, SM6 9JN,
The Link School – Cottage, 3 Carew Manor Cottages, Church Road, Wallington, SM6 7NH
Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Term-time only.
Start date: September 2026
The Link School specialises in supporting students aged 4 to 18 with Speech, Language, and Communication difficulties, including autism spectrum conditions and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). In addition to its Primary and Secondary sites, the school also operates two satellite sites, both designed to provide a safe, nurturing environment for autistic young people with demand-avoidant profiles.
The school provides a warm, safe, friendly and nurturing environment, which helps pupils to learn, express their ideas, communicate, develop friendships and grow in confidence and self- esteem.
Our dedicated staff deliver an outstanding education grounded in practitioner research, offering a holistic curriculum that fosters both personal and social development, as well as cognitive growth.
We are looking for a caring and committed Special Support 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 work under the guidance of the head of site in the planning and implementation of learning programmes for individuals or small groups of learners.
•To provide general support to the satellite teachers in the management and organisation of learners with special needs within the site.
•To assist the teachers in creating and maintaining a purposeful, orderly and supportive learning environment.
•To assist the specialist team in supporting children and young people within the local community and for some periods of time within home and school settings for young people accessing the outreach service.
•To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school.
Key Requirements:
•GCSEs including Maths and English
•Understanding/Knowledge of Children with Special Education Needs
•Ability to adapt activities to learners changing motivation and interest levels
•Understanding of safeguarding practice within a school environment
•Observe pupil learning behaviour and report observations to the teacher
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, Home Electronics Scheme and Employee Car Lease 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, My Gym 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 OHCAT a truly rewarding place to work - visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch inspiring messages from students and parents about the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust:
The Link School 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: 12th May 2026
Interviews will take place on: WC 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.