Teaching Assistant

Full Job Description

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.

Job Title:  Teaching Assistant

Location:  Bluebank School, Whittington Moor, Derbyshire, S41 8LQ

Salary:      £20,906.25 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours:      37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract:  Permanent, Term Time Only

Start:        January 2026

We are excited to offer a unique opportunity for an inspiring, dynamic, and committed Teaching Assistant to join Bluebank School, a new Acorn Education provision opening in January 2026. This co-educational school will support up to 60 pupils aged 5–18 with complex needs, including Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.

About the Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll support our Teachers to take a creative and flexible approach to teaching, helping pupils to achieve their educational goals and develop their confidence.

This is a fantastic opportunity if you’re looking to build a career in education and want to inspire learning in pupils with varied and complex needs. Your work will be both challenging and rewarding, and you’ll play an important role in creating a school environment where pupils are listened to, respected, and actively involved in decisions about their learning.

Day to day, you’ll:

• Work with individual pupils and small groups to promote interaction and learning.
• Prepare classrooms and materials to support engaging lessons.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support Teachers in planning and delivering creative and meaningful lessons.
• Help ensure a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment where every child can thrive.

Who We're Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Caring and resilient, with the motivation to make a difference.
• Engaging and calm, able to support children with autism and complex needs.
• A strong team player who enjoys working collaboratively.
• Educated to GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).

Supporting Statement Guidance

Please include a short statement telling us:

• A little about yourself and why you are interested in this position.
• Why you believe you are suitable for the role, referring to the job description.
• Details of your relevant skills and experience.
• How you would contribute to the role and the school if appointed.

About us

Bluebank School is a brand-new Acorn Education provision set to open in January 2026 in Whittington Moor, Derbyshire. The co-educational school will cater for up to 60 pupils aged 5 to 18, offering specialist support for children and young people with complex needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties.

We are part of Acorn Education and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career. 

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

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.

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. 

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!*

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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