Teaching Assistant

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Job Title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Oak Tree School, Truro, TR4 9NH
Salary: £25,115.38 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 42.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am - 4.30pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: October 2026

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

Build Confidence. Encourage Independence. Help Young People Discover What They Can Achieve.

At Oak Tree School, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to feel valued, experience success and recognise their own potential.

We’re looking for enthusiastic and compassionate Teaching Assistants to join our supportive team. Working alongside teachers and colleagues, you’ll help young people engage with their education, overcome barriers to learning and make meaningful progress both inside and outside the classroom.

This is about much more than supporting lessons. You’ll build positive relationships, encourage independence and be there for the moments when a young person tries something new, develops a skill or begins to believe in themselves. With a mixture of classroom, practical and outdoor learning, no two days will be exactly the same.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide individual, small group and classroom support, helping young people engage with learning and make progress

• Build positive and trusting relationships, creating an environment where young people feel safe, valued and supported

• Work alongside teachers to prepare and deliver engaging learning activities

• Encourage the development of confidence, independence, resilience and social skills

• Adapt your support around individual learning needs, recognising that every young person is different

• Get involved in a variety of classroom, practical and outdoor learning experiences

• Support learning, behaviour, development and wellbeing using positive and consistent approaches

• Work collaboratively with colleagues to create an inclusive and supportive school environment

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings patience, enthusiasm and a genuine desire to help young people succeed.

You’ll be someone who:

• Can build positive and trusting relationships with young people and colleagues

• Is caring, patient and able to adapt your approach around individual needs

• Is comfortable supporting both indoor and outdoor learning activities

• Can encourage positive behaviour, engagement and social development

• Is proactive and willing to get involved in different aspects of school life

• Enjoys working collaboratively and contributing to a supportive team

• Is committed to inclusion and helping every young person recognise their potential

• Understands the importance of safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of young people

About Us

Oak Tree School in Truro has recently expanded and developed two new buildings and undergone a successful inspection from Ofsted allowing us to offer a wider age range of students from 5 – 18 years the opportunity to have the best education possible. Oak Tree School is a specialist SEMH provision positioned near the city of Truro in Cornwall. The school provides full-time specialist co-education for up to 135 students and young people aged 5 to 18 who experience social, emotional, mental health, communication difficulties and associated challenging behaviours. These students and young people often cannot cope, function or achieve within a mainstream environment. The aim is to provide a structured, nurturing approach, with students accessing a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum to meet their significant needs.

This opportunity is in Truro which is within commutable distance of Redruth, St Austell and surrounding areas.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance

• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions

• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks

• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:

  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits

  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts

  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme

  • Critical illness cover

  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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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