Teaching Assistant - No experience needed

Full Job Description

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

Job Title:  Teaching Assistant - No experience needed - training provided
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:         October 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Never Worked in a School? You Could Still Be Exactly Who We’re Looking For. You don’t need classroom experience to make a difference to a young person.

At Smallbrook School, we’re looking for caring, positive and resilient people to join us as Teaching Assistants. If you can build relationships, stay calm when things get challenging and genuinely want to help young people succeed, we can support you with the training and guidance you need to develop.

You’ll work with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who may have experienced barriers to learning. By getting to know each pupil and understanding what works for them, you’ll help build their confidence, independence and willingness to engage with education.

This is not a role where every day looks the same. You could be supporting classroom learning, working individually with a pupil, getting involved in practical activities or heading outside for an enrichment experience. What stays consistent is the opportunity to make a difference.

What you will be doing 

• Provide individual, small group and classroom support, helping pupils engage with learning and achieve their personal goals
• Build positive and trusting relationships so pupils feel safe, understood and ready to participate
• Support teachers with creative and personalised activities, adapting your approach around individual needs
• Help pupils develop confidence, communication, independence and important life skills
• Provide calm and consistent support when pupils find situations difficult, helping them understand and regulate their emotions
• Get involved in classroom learning, practical activities, outdoor education and enrichment opportunities
• Work alongside teachers, therapists and other professionals to provide consistent support
• Celebrate progress and help create a nurturing and inclusive environment where every pupil has the opportunity to succeed

What We’re Looking For

No School Experience? That’s Okay. Your experience does not need to come from a classroom.

You might currently work in care, support work, youth work, childcare, hospitality, retail, customer service, residential services, sports or coaching. Or you might simply be looking for a complete career change into something more meaningful.

Many of the skills you already use could transfer brilliantly into a Teaching Assistant role.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is patient, caring and able to build positive relationships
• Can remain calm and reassuring when situations become challenging
• Is resilient and willing to try a different approach when something is not working
• Enjoys working with others and being part of a supportive team
• Is enthusiastic, flexible and willing to get involved in school life
• Genuinely wants to help children and young people with SEND achieve their potential
• Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people

No previous Teaching Assistant or school experience is required. Training and support will be provided.

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