Teaching Assistant

Our teaching assistants are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference

Get out what you put in

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Specifically you will be in a class of younger pupils with complex needs and limited vocabulary. You’ll help them learn, monitor their work and help raise their self-esteem. It’s not just about academic achievement; we want them to feel accepted and confident in their abilities. You’ll need to be very resilient and dedicated to the wellbeing of our young people. Your support can be invaluable to teachers and young people, which means it’s very rewarding.

As an experienced Teaching Assistant already, you should be used to life in the classroom and up to date with welfare and safeguarding practices within Education. You’ll also need to be qualified to at least NVQ level 2 (or equivalent) and have a relevant communication qualification such as PECS. Ideally you will have an understanding of speech, language and communication needs along with experience using interventions such as PECS and Intensive Interaction. You will have an awareness of sensory processing differences and experience of social, emotional and mental health needs. We need you to build great relationships with all our young people, so you can motivate them to do well and be the best that they can be. If you’re emotionally strong and good in a team, we can offer a role with exciting prospects. There are occasional meetings outside school hours, for which your attendance will be required.

It can be a tough journey, but the positive steps forward will more than make up for it. As a Teaching Assistant at Witherslack Group, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed. Your colleagues will be the best at what they do, the school environments will be well-resourced and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you build a rewarding teaching career.

One of the best environments in SEND

Westmorland School is used to receiving awards, accolades and glowing praise from parents and professionals. However, what sets it apart is its unique ability to cater for two distinct areas of special educational need, in separate individualised and bespoke learning environments, all within one school. The development of two curriculum approaches for both ASD and SEMH pupil cohorts is successfully and harmoniously delivered through the school’s BEARS and CATS settings.

The success of Westmorland’s differentiated approach is evident from the schools continued development, external recognition, achievement of Ofsted outstanding verdicts in all areas, and, most significantly, the exemplary outcomes it realises for its pupils.

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll get to bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers and leaders have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £2,000 bonus every time
• Contributory pension (matched up to 5%)

Bring your whole-self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. You’ll be more than a Teaching Assistant, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of:

• Your ‘can do’ attitude – a team player who rolls up their sleeves to help others
• Ideally you’ll have experience working in a classroom, but if not, we can provide you will all the relevant training
• Your genuine passion for supporting children to learn and the impact it can have on their lives
• Your enthusiasm and expertise to support the teacher and work closely with our therapists

Interested in joining us?

Our young people deserve the best possible future and we feel the same about our teams. You deserve to have the career you want, with a purpose-led employer, in an environment that allows you to be yourself.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.