SEN Teaching Assistant

Full Job Description

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title:  SEN Teaching Assistant
Location:  Smallbrook School, Shrewsbury, SY4 3HE
Hours:      37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 8.45am - 4.20pm
Salary:      £22,160.62 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:         September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Looking for a career where you can make a real difference every day?

At Smallbrook School, we're looking for a compassionate and enthusiastic SEN Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated team. You'll support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), helping them build confidence, develop independence and achieve their full potential in a safe, nurturing and engaging environment.

No two days are the same, and every day brings the opportunity to celebrate progress and change lives.

What you will be doing 

• Support pupils with SEND, including complex needs, to access learning and achieve their individual goals.
• Assist with engaging classroom, outdoor and enrichment activities tailored to pupils' needs.
• Provide emotional, behavioural and practical support to help pupils feel safe, valued and understood.
• Encourage independence, communication, positive relationships and personal development.
• Work closely with teachers and the wider team to create a positive, inclusive learning environment.

What you will bring

• Caring, patient and passionate about supporting children and young people with SEND.
• Resilient, positive and able to build strong, trusting relationships.
• A confident communicator who works well as part of a supportive team.
• Flexible, enthusiastic and committed to helping every pupil succeed.
• Dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

About Us

Smallbrook School is currently increasing capacity from 50 students to 80 and having a large investment in our school site developing KS2 and sixth form provision. We are a co-educational day school catering for pupils aged 7-18 with a range of complex needs including a range of social, emotional and mental health needs and also pupils who have been diagnosed with autism or demonstrate behaviours associated with autism.

You will contribute to making Smallbrook School an outstanding provision for our young people and their families. We provide a therapeutic, supportive and inclusive learning environment and are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential and supporting them through a personalised, engaging curriculum. Our priority is to develop the foundation knowledge and skills required to make a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.

Our School is based halfway between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

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 Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. 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.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

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

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.

#1