Teaching Assistant

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Job description

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

Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year - so there's never been a more exciting time to join us !

Visits to Underley Garden School are Welcome to all applicants!

Job title: Teaching Assistant

Location: Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale

Salary: £22,300.00 per annum

Hours: 40 Hours Per Week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

Candidates must have Full UK Driving Licence and Access to Own Vehicle

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our close-knit team at Underley Garden School, part of Options Autism.

About Us

Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on pupils and young people, 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. At Underley Garden, we aim to make a positive difference to the personal, social and learning lives of the people entrusted to our care.

Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our young people 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 young people with complex special educational needs.

Underley Garden School is 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 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. 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.

The opportunity

Enjoy a rewarding education career and have a real impact on pupils and young people's lives. Join an amazing team creating supportive, nurturing environments where our pupils achieve far more than they ever expected.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will connect directly with the brilliant pupils and young people we care for, helping to make sure they get the very best from their education. Each individual has a diagnosis of Autism and may have additional needs. They have so much potential, and they will rely on you to guide their learning journeys bespoke to them.

You will help prepare learning materials and run classroom activities, with plenty of hands-on experience and some supervision too. You will take responsibility for their emotional and physical needs, supporting them to develop as individuals and engage with the world.

Every day will be different, but you will have all the support you need, with lots of skills and experience to draw on along with valuable advice and guidance too.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for passionate staff who want to support pupils with a variety of complex needs such as Autism, SEMH, ADHD, Non-Verbal and Pre-Verbal and Communicational difficulties and more. You will be required as a part of your role to undertake personal care duties to support our students.

We would love to hear from candidates who have their GCSE C or above (or equivalent) in English and Maths, but you don't need any experience to join our team. If you come from hospitality, the army, outdoor activity centres or an office-based job but are eager to help vulnerable pupils and young people to live happy, fulfilling lives, this is the role for you. We will provide you with full training and development to succeed within your role.

You will be adaptable and ready to work in a variety of classroom roles, both indoors and outside according to individual need. Taking a responsive and caring approach, you may be running classroom activities, leading outdoor experiences or supervising pupils as they explore further afield.

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.

Why join Options Autism?

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
• BUPA Wellbeing Health Expenses including Employee Assistance Programme and Anytime Healthline
• Team Building Days
• Attendance Incentive
• '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

And that's not all, 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.

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.

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