. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued development, we are delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join our close-knit and supportive team at Smallbrook School, located in Shrewsbury.
This is a rewarding role for someone who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people with a range of complex needs.
About the Role
You will work primarily on a 1:1 basis with individual pupils who require high levels of support due to a combination of social, emotional, communication, and learning challenges. These may include:
1. Speech and sound disorders
2. Expressive and receptive language difficulties
3. Attention and concentration difficulties
4. Work avoidance behaviours and episodes of challenging behaviour
While the role is predominantly based in the classroom, it also involves supporting families and engaging with external professionals involved in the pupil's care, including:
5. Social Workers
6. Speech and Language Therapists
7. Educational Psychologists
8. Early Intervention and Social Communication Disorder Assessment Teams
At times, your work may take place outside of the traditional classroom environment, depending on the needs of the student.
Key Responsibilities
9. Provide 1:1 learning and emotional support to a designated pupil
10. Foster a safe, positive, and nurturing learning environment
11. Work collaboratively with teaching staff, therapists, families, and external agencies
12. Contribute to the pupil’s individual learning plan and help monitor progress
13. Encourage engagement in learning through tailored, child-centred approaches
14. Uphold the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils at all times
15. Support the day-to-day organisation of the school, including administrative duties where required
16. Take on specific responsibilities as part of the school’s development and improvement plans
What We're Looking For
17. Minimum GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
18. Experience working with young people with SEN, SEMH, autism, or communication disorders (desirable)
19. A calm, patient, and empathetic approach
20. Strong communication and teamwork skills
21. Willingness to engage in training and personal development
22. A genuine passion for supporting young people to reach their full potential
About us
Smallbrook School is a co-educational day school based halfway between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire. We are currently expanding our capacity from 50 to 80 students, with significant investment in our site to develop our KS2 and sixth form provision.
We cater to pupils aged 7–18 with a range of complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, as well as those diagnosed with autism or displaying behaviours associated with autism.
At Smallbrook, we provide a therapeutic, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise and reach their potential. Through a personalised and engaging curriculum, we focus on developing the foundational knowledge and skills that ensure a smooth and manageable transition to the next stage of life.
Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. 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 Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults 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 and young people. 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:
23. Life Assurance
24. Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
25. “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:
26. A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
27. 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
28. Cycle to Work Schemes
29. Electric Car Purchase Scheme
30. Critical illness cover
31. Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
32. One Moment In Time
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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