Teaching Assistant

Full Job Description

We believe in giving you more time to do the things you love outside of work

Job Title:  Teaching Assistant
Location:  Chestnut Hill School, Holywell, CH8 9DX
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday–Friday | Mon, Tues, Thurs 8am - 4pm, Wed 8am - 5pm & Fri 8am - 3pm 
Salary:      £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        November 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Some of the most important moments in education are not always the biggest ones. Helping a pupil join in with a lesson, seeing their confidence grow or being the person who encourages them to keep going can make a lasting difference.

As a Teaching Assistant at Chestnut Hill School, you’ll support children and young people with varied and complex needs, helping them feel safe, understood and ready to learn. Working alongside teachers and the wider school team, you’ll provide personalised support that helps every pupil make progress in a way that is meaningful to them.

This is a varied, hands on role where learning can happen in the classroom, outdoors or through enrichment activities. You’ll build positive relationships, encourage independence and celebrate every achievement along the way.

What you will be doing

• Supporting pupils individually, in small groups and within the classroom to access learning and achieve their personal goals
• Working alongside teachers to deliver engaging and personalised learning activities
• Building positive and trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe, valued and understood
• Providing calm and consistent support for pupils’ emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour
• Encouraging the development of confidence, independence, communication and social skills
• Supporting learning through classroom activities, outdoor experiences and wider enrichment opportunities
• Adapting your approach to individual needs, recognising that every pupil learns and communicates differently
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to create a positive, nurturing and inclusive learning environment
• Recognising and celebrating progress, helping pupils see what they are capable of achieving

What you will bring

We’re looking for someone who genuinely wants to make a difference to young people and understands that progress looks different for every pupil.

You’ll need:

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 or C or above, or equivalent
• A caring, patient and compassionate approach
• The ability to build positive relationships with children and young people
• A calm and resilient attitude when faced with challenging situations
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team
• A flexible and adaptable approach to supporting different needs and learning styles
• Enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved in a variety of learning and school activities
• A genuine commitment to helping young people build confidence, develop independence and achieve their potential

About Us

Chestnut Hill is a small, independent school for autistic pupils and young people. We aim to provide an inclusive, safe, inspiring and supportive environment in which our pupils are encouraged to aspire and believe in themselves, discover new ways of learning, develop skills for life, know they are valued, and have a sense of belonging. The students’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything Chestnut Hill do, and we aim to build close relationships with parents/guardians and work collaboratively with other professionals, such as speech and language, art and occupational therapists. We will always strive for the very best for our young people and support their individual needs.

Our tailored curriculum will cover all Areas of Learning (AoLE's) from the New Welsh Curriculum, in imaginative and flexible ways. We aim to provide regular opportunities for pupils to access a wide range of activities including yoga, forest school, British Sign Language, swimming and coaching in a range of sport and physical activities.

We are located a beautiful rural setting, surrounded by farmland and looking over the Dee Estuary in Flintshire, Wales.

For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. 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 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.

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