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: Maple Grove School, Chester, CH2 3HR

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

Hours:     37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am-4pm

Contract: Permanent, Term Time only

Start Date: November 2025

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

Maple Grove School, part of Options Autism, is expanding — and we’re looking for a compassionate, dedicated Teaching Assistant to join our team. If you're passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning and thrive in an inclusive, supportive environment, this could be the perfect role for you.

About the role

As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll provide dedicated 1:1 support to pupils with a range of complex needs, such as speech and language difficulties, delayed comprehension, attention and concentration issues, and behavioural challenges including emotional regulation and task avoidance.

Your role extends beyond the classroom—building positive relationships with families and carers, and collaborating with professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists, Educational Psychologists, Social Workers, and Early Intervention teams. While rooted in education, your support plays a key role in each pupil’s wellbeing, personal growth, and long-term success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting pupils 1:1 and in small groups to access learning
• Assisting in the planning and delivery of tailored educational activities
• Helping manage behaviour positively and effectively
• Working collaboratively with teachers and multi-agency professionals
• Supporting the emotional and social development of pupils
• Carrying out administrative and organisational tasks as directed
• Promoting safeguarding and wellbeing as a priority across the school

What We’re Looking For:

• A calm, patient, and nurturing individual with a genuine passion for helping children
• Experience working with young people with SEN, SEMH or communication difficulties (desirable, not essential)
• Excellent communication and teamworking skills
• Flexible, proactive, and able to work independently as well as part of a team
• A strong commitment to safeguarding and pupil welfare

About us

Maple Grove is a specialist setting for learners with autism. At Maple Grove, everything we do revolves around the individual needs of each pupil attending our school, with the aim that every learner is able to fulfil their potential.

Along with our rich and varied curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social ability, sensory processing, and emotional regulation; every pupil develops the essential capabilities they need to be as independent as possible when they leave school. 

We are situated in Hoole, Chester, with the school set within a beautiful, historic building that has been completely refurbished and redesigned to the highest standard. 

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils 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.

Why join Options Autism?

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.

*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. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit 

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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