Earn up to £24,336 FTE (36 hours over 39 weeks) as a Teaching Assistant

With an additional £1,000 Retention Bonus

We are seeking a number of Teaching Assistants to support growing student numbers, to join the education team in our specialist school and college. This Teaching Assistant role is very different from a mainstream TA position. During the school week, you will be supporting students, age 5-19, with severe social communication difficulties, complex learning disabilities and often challenging behaviours to access therapy based education. With your compassion and guidance, you will help our students learn and achieve the greatest possible level of independence relative to their complex needs and help prepare them for life beyond school or college.

Our classes have between 4 and 10 students. They are grouped by ability and to meet their social needs rather than age. Some class time is structured. Many students follow a personalised timetable. They learn core skills including numeracy, literacy and science as well as life and living skills including cookery and gardening. Lessons are often 30 minutes long. Some of our students are non-verbal using alternative means of communication including Makaton, signs, symbols or communications aids, often using a multi-sensory approach.

Supporting our students can sometimes be challenging. They may get frustrated, anxious and emotional and you will need to guide them through it by helping them to manage their feelings and behaviour. You will have the ongoing support of a skilled and dedicated team. Comprehensive training and mentoring includes learning about safeguarding, autism and positive behaviour support. Some of our students may need personal care.

All of our TAs take part in a twice weekly TA training package that includes theory and practical sessions and leads to a teaching apprentice qualification which has been approved by the CPD standards office. If you are recruited, you will be required to complete Team Teach positive behaviour support training as part of your induction before employment.

You don’t need experience to apply. You do need empathy and compassion. Physical and mental resilience are essential qualities for all our staff along with a “can do” attitude.

School hours are 36 per week: Monday 08.30-16.00, Tuesday - Thursday 08.30 – 16.15 and Friday 08.30 – 15.45 plus thirty minutes admin time. We cannot accommodate reduced working hours per day but can accommodate less than 5 days per week (ideally 3 or more). Please contact us to discuss.

Teaching Assistant actual salary pro rata is £17,252 - £18,292 for 39 weeks, term time plus CPD days (£20,114 - £21,174 FTE based on 36 hours over 52 weeks), rising to pro rata £19,004 - £20,873 (£22,157 - £24,336 FTE based on 36 hours over 52 weeks) for a Senior Teaching Assistant after completing the TA apprenticeship (paid for by us) and 2 years with the Trust. It is also possible to apply for Higher Level Teaching Assistant roles (class or subject based) as they become available, with unqualified HLTA starting salaries from £20,873 (£24,336 FTE, 36 hours over 52 weeks) or qualified from £24,104 (£28,103 FTE, 36 hours over 52 weeks).

Benefits

• £1,000 Retention bonus - £250 after 1 month, £250 after 1 year, £500 after 18 months at Trust (subject to tax and NI)

• Life Insurance and Medical cashplan commencing after a month at Trust

• Team Teach positive behaviour support training, refreshed every two years, with ongoing assistance from on site Team Teach tutors within our Inclusion Team

• Personalised approach to CPD, including training courses paid for by the Trust and regular 1:1 line management support with online appraisals

• Free hot lunch supplied by our in-house catering team during term time

• Ample on-site parking

• Employee assistance service (confidential, professional wellbeing and counselling 24/7 service for you and your family members)

• Excellent network of support across the organisation including a team of Adult Mental Health First Aid and Occupational Health

• Cranleigh Leisure Centre discount on gym, swim and fitness classes

• Based on a beautiful 23 acre site in a semi-rural area on the edge of the Surrey Hills (own transport is desirable due to semi-rural location)

Please apply by emailing Joel@guardianrecruitment.co.uk or by filling out a form on this page.