Teaching Assistant

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Position:  Teaching Assistant
Location: Strawberry Lane School, Durham, DH6 5BE
Hours:      37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday 
Salary:      £22,160.62 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        October 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Strawberry Lane School, we’re looking for an experienced and confident Teaching Assistant with a strong background supporting children and young people with Complex Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

This is an opportunity for someone who already understands the rewards and challenges of specialist education and can bring the knowledge, confidence and resilience needed to provide high-quality, individualised support from day one.

You’ll work closely with teachers, therapists and pastoral colleagues to understand each pupil’s communication, sensory, emotional and learning needs. Using your experience, you’ll help pupils regulate, engage with education, develop independence and make meaningful progress at their own pace.

We’re looking for someone who can recognise when a pupil needs encouragement, when an approach needs adapting and when providing calm, consistent support can prevent a challenging situation from escalating.

For an experienced TA who wants to use their skills in a specialist environment where relationships, individual progress and positive outcomes really matter, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide high-quality 1:1, small-group and classroom support for pupils with Complex ASC and additional needs.

• Use your knowledge and experience to adapt support around individual communication, sensory, emotional and learning needs.

• Support pupils with emotional regulation and behaviours that may challenge using calm, consistent and appropriate strategies.

• Work alongside teachers and therapists to implement personalised learning and support strategies.

• Build strong, trusting and appropriately boundaried relationships that help pupils feel safe and able to engage.

• Promote communication, independence, confidence, resilience and essential life skills.

• Recognise triggers, changes in presentation and barriers to engagement, responding proactively and sharing observations with the wider team.

• Support learning beyond the classroom through practical activities, outdoor learning, enrichment and educational visits.

Who we are looking for

We’re Looking for Experience, Confidence and the Ability to Connect This role would suit an established Teaching Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant or specialist support professional who has significant experience supporting children or young people with complex needs.

You’ll need to:

• Have strong, demonstrable experience supporting individuals with Complex ASC.

• Have experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs and/or behaviours that may challenge.

• Understand how autism can affect communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation and engagement with learning.

• Be confident implementing individualised strategies and adapting your approach when a pupil’s needs change.

• Be calm and resilient, with the ability to respond confidently and appropriately in challenging situations.

• Have excellent relationship-building and communication skills.

• Be able to recognise and respond to individual behaviours, triggers and communication needs.

• Work confidently alongside teachers, therapists, pastoral colleagues and other professionals.

• Be proactive, reliable and able to use your initiative while working within agreed plans and approaches.

• Be committed to safeguarding and achieving the best possible outcomes for every pupil.

About Us

Strawberry Lane School is a brand-new specialist school in Bowburn, Durham, supporting 60 pupils aged 11–19 with autism, communication needs, and additional complex needs. In a nurturing and inclusive environment, pupils receive personalised support to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. The school celebrates each learner’s strengths while providing structure, guidance, and encouragement. Strawberry Lane empowers every young person to thrive and reach their full potential.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

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 pupils 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 pupils 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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