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: Manor House School, Slinfold, Horsham, RH13 0QX
Salary:     Up to £24,675 per year (not pro rata)
Hours:     40 hours per week | Monday – Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term Time only
Start:        February 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available

At Manor House School, we believe education changes lives—and our Teaching Assistants are at the heart of that transformation. We’re looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and dedicated individuals to join our vibrant school community and help shape brighter futures for our pupils.

This is more than a job. It’s a chance to inspire, support, and celebrate young people every single day in a school bursting with energy, creativity, and purpose.

About the Role
As a Teaching Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in creating a positive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. Working alongside passionate teachers, you’ll support pupils academically, socially, and emotionally—helping them build confidence, independence, and a love of learning.

No two days are the same, and every day brings new opportunities to make a real and lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Build warm, trusting relationships with pupils and respond to their individual needs
• Support social, emotional, and academic development with patience, encouragement, and care
• Work one-to-one or in small groups to boost confidence, engagement, and achievement
• Help create calm, welcoming, and inspiring classroom environments
• Support teachers with lesson preparation, behaviour strategies, resources, and classroom management
• Contribute to the wider life of the school, including safeguarding, administration, and communication with parents

Your Impact
Every day, you’ll make a difference. You’ll help pupils feel safe, confident, and included, encourage independence, and celebrate every success—big or small. You’ll play a key role in shaping a school community where every child can thrive, while also contributing to the growth, improvement, and heartbeat of Manor House School itself.

About us

Manor House School is a DfE registered independent school which caters for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health needs between the ages of 7-18 years old.

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 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 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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