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: Avonside School, Bristol BS4 5PS 
Salary:     £23,638.00 per (not pro rata)
Hours:     40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Full Time
Start:       January 2026
UK applicants only – this role does not offer sponsorship

As part of our continued growth, Avonside School — a new Acorn Education provision — is seeking dedicated and compassionate Teaching Assistants to join our passionate team in Brislington, Bristol.
Opened in August 2025 with a capacity for 72 pupils, Avonside is a co-educational specialist school designed to meet the needs of children and young people with complex learning profiles, including SEMH and autism. This is a rare opportunity to be part of a fresh, forward-thinking school from an early stage in its journey.

Here, every member of staff plays a part in creating a safe, inclusive environment where pupils are understood, supported, and inspired to thrive.

About the Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll work closely with class teachers and tutors to provide consistent, person-centred support for pupils. You’ll help deliver structured, engaging lessons while building positive relationships that nurture confidence, independence, and emotional wellbeing.

You will:

• Support teachers in delivering high-quality, inclusive learning experiences
• Help maintain a positive classroom environment that meets the needs of pupils with autism and SEMH
• Organise resources, displays, and student groupings to encourage engagement and curiosity
• Assist with planning, record-keeping, and reviewing pupil progress
• Contribute to documentation such as Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
• Promote pupils’ personal, educational, and social development
• Use and maintain equipment and resources safely and effectively
• Support pupil wellbeing on and off site in line with risk assessments
• Create or adapt learning resources and teaching aids when required
• Work collaboratively as part of a multi-professional team, building strong working relationships with colleagues

Every day will bring new challenges, achievements, and opportunities to make a meaningful difference.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about supporting pupils with autism, SEMH, or additional learning needs
• Patient, flexible, and creative in their approach
• Able to build positive, trusting relationships
• Confident working as part of a collaborative team
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion, and high-quality care
• Resilient, proactive, and motivated to help every child reach their full potential

Previous experience in a SEND environment is advantageous, but above all, we value attitude, empathy, and a genuine desire to help young people grow.

If you’re ready to make a real difference and help shape a supportive environment where every pupil feels valued and empowered, we’d love to hear from you.

About us

Our New Acorn School, Avonside School in Bristol, has a capacity for 72 pupils and opened August 2025. The school is a co-educational provision for pupils with complex needs including SEMH.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth 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 the 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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