Teaching Assistant

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Visits to Underley Garden School are welcome to all applicants!

Job Title:  Teaching Assistant
Location:  Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2DZ
Salary:      £23,638.00 per annum (FTE, not pro rata) plus a Welcome Bonus of £1,000**
Hours:      Up to 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am – 4pm. Part Time and Full Time hours available – to be discussed at interview
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:         November 2025

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship

Candidates must have a Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle to get to work

As part of our continued growth, we are thrilled to offer a Teaching Assistant position at Underley Garden School, part of Options Autism. You’ll join a close-knit, supportive team dedicated to helping pupils with autism and complex needs thrive.

About the Role

In this rewarding role, you’ll build trusting relationships with students, support their emotional, social, and physical development, and help create engaging, personalised learning experiences. Every day will be different, offering the chance to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of the young people you support.

Key Responsibilities

• Support pupils aged 5–19 with a diagnosis of Autism and additional needs such as SEMH, ADHD, and communication difficulties

• Help prepare learning materials and assist in delivering personalised lessons and activities

• Provide 1:1 and group support, including supervision during lessons and off-site trips

• Promote positive behaviour and emotional wellbeing

• Support with personal care routines (e.g., feeding, toileting), depending on pupil needs

• Engage in both classroom-based and outdoor learning experiences

• Foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that encourages pupils to thrive

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from people with or without prior education experience. What matters most is that you bring:

• A genuine passion for working with young people with additional needs

• Patience, empathy, and resilience

• Flexibility to adapt to a variety of learning environments and pupil needs

• Willingness to engage in all aspects of school life – from lessons to life skills, play, and outdoor learning

• Team spirit and a commitment to making a positive difference

• Willingness to undertake training and grow within the role

You may have previous experience in education, care, hospitality, military, retail, or customer service – or this could be your first step into a deeply rewarding sector. Either way, we’ll support you with a comprehensive induction and development opportunities.

Our schools are built on great teamwork and mutual support. If you enjoy working as part of a dedicated team, sharing knowledge, experience and learning, simply fill in our safeguarding-compliant application form and a member of our team will be in touch.

About Us

Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on pupils, aged 5-19, who have a range of complex needs associated with autism and learning disabilities, including complex communication, sensory and behavioural needs associated with their disabilities.

Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our pupils and endeavours to ensure that they achieve as high a standard as possible. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of education, care and therapy to meet the individual requirements of students with complex special educational needs.

At Underley Garden, we aim to make a positive difference to the personal, social and learning lives of the people entrusted to our care.

Located near the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales in a commutable distance of Lancaster, Cumbria and surrounding areas.

For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. 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 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

We place the outcomes of the pupils 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. 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:

• Life Assurance

• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions

• “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:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits

• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad

• Cycle to Work Schemes

• Electric Car Purchase Scheme

• Critical illness cover

• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

Additional School Benefits

• Birthday Chocolates

• Gift Voucher at Christmas

• Medicash Wellbeing Health Expenses including Employee Assistance Programme and Anytime Healthline

• Team Building Days

• 'Go Green Initiative' - Every staff member who lives outside of a 10-mile radius from Underley Garden will receive a payment for five days travel per month. We encourage car sharing where possible

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

**Welcome Bonus is payable as one payment of £500 after completion of month three and one further payment of £500 upon completion of your final probation period. Terms and Conditions Apply

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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