Teaching Assistant

Full Job Description

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

Job title:  Teaching Assistant
Location:  Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Salary:      £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:         October 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available

About the Role

Do you have the patience to understand a child, the creativity to inspire them, and the determination to never give up.

At our school, being a Teaching Assistant is about so much more than supporting lessons. It’s about building trust, celebrating small wins and helping young people discover what they are capable of.

You’ll work alongside experienced teachers and a dedicated wider team, providing the encouragement, structure and individual support pupils need to engage in learning and thrive.

What You'll Be Doing

• Supporting pupils individually and in small groups to access learning
• Working closely with teachers to deliver engaging classroom activities
• Helping pupils develop confidence, independence and positive relationships
• Supporting emotional wellbeing and encouraging positive behaviours
• Creating a calm, inclusive and encouraging learning environment
• Taking part in activities across the wider school day
• Celebrating progress, however big or small

What We're Looking For

You don’t need years of experience in education. We’re looking for someone with the right attitude, resilience and passion to make a difference.

You could be an experienced Teaching Assistant, looking for a new challenge, or someone from another background who has the patience, empathy and enthusiasm to build meaningful relationships with young people.

• Compassionate and patient, with a calm approach
• Positive and resilient, even when things get challenging
• Creative and adaptable, able to think differently about how pupils learn
• A great team player, who enjoys learning from others
• Passionate about young people and committed to helping them succeed
• Driving licence required

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park School supports every child and young person to feel safe, be heard, discover their worth, develop their strengths and create a limitless future.

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