Teaching Assistant

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).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job Title:    Teaching Assistant

Location:    Dibden Park School, Southampton

Salary:        £22,300.00 per annum (Full salary split over 12 months)

Hours:        40 hours per week,Monday to Friday 8:30am

Contract:    Permanent, Term Time only

Plus £1,000 Welcome Bonus! – £500 after one month and £500 after successful completion of final probation - there has never been a better time to join us *T&C’s apply*

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our close-knit team at Dibden Park School, part of Acorn Education.

The opportunity

Enjoy a rewarding education career and have a real impact on pupil’s lives. Join an amazing team making our schools and classrooms supportive, enriching places where vulnerable pupils achieve far more than they ever expected.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will connect directly with the brilliant students we care for, helping to make sure they get the very best from their education. Each individual has so much potential, and they will rely on you to guide their learning journeys.

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.

Supporting pupils with complex Social Emotional Mental Health (SEMH) needs is important and rewarding work, and you will benefit from the tremendous support offered by our hugely experienced teams. As you help our pupils achieve real and significant progress, you will enjoy having a direct, positive impact on their developing lives.

Who we are looking for

You will have previous school experience, 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.

Highly desirable: SEN/SEMH experience

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

Dibden Park School is a brand-new school based in Southampton**. **Dibden Park School will place 60 students and will cater to students with social and emotional mental health and other complex needs. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop with a new staff team in a newly established independent special school.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education for vulnerable pupils. 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.

Why join Acorn Education? 

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.

And that’s not all, 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.

*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.

***OFG - Equal Opportunities Strategy

*To see the Job Description, please click here *