Teaching Assistant
- Southampton
- Permanent
Full Job Description
We believe in giving you more time to do the things you love outside of work
Job title: Teacher Assistant
Location: Bower Lodge School, Dibden, Southampton, SO45 5TD
Salary: £22,160.62 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8:30am – 4:30pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available
About the Role
Be the Person Who Helps a Young Person Believe They Can. At Bower Lodge School, we’re looking for a caring, positive and resilient Teaching Assistant to help young people overcome barriers to learning, build confidence and recognise what they are capable of achieving.
This is much more than supporting lessons. You’ll be a mentor, role model and trusted adult, building positive relationships and providing the consistency and encouragement young people need to engage with their education.
Working alongside experienced teachers and a supportive wider team, you’ll help create learning experiences that are engaging, accessible and meaningful. Whether you’re supporting a young person individually, working with a small group or getting involved in wider school activities, you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference every day.
What you will be doing
- Provide individual and small group support, helping young people engage with learning and make meaningful progress
- Build positive and trusting relationships that help young people feel safe, valued and understood
- Work alongside teachers to deliver creative and engaging learning activities
- Encourage greater confidence, independence, resilience and social development
- Support emotional wellbeing and use positive, consistent approaches to behaviour
- Adapt your support around individual strengths, needs and learning styles
- Help create a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment where young people can succeed
- Recognise and celebrate progress, helping young people develop confidence in their own abilities
Who We’re Looking For
We’re interested in more than what’s written on your CV. We’re looking for someone with the patience, resilience and enthusiasm to make a genuine difference.
You may already be an experienced Teaching Assistant, or your skills could come from education, care, youth work, childcare, coaching or support services.
You’ll bring:
- GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent
- A caring and patient approach with the ability to build positive relationships with young people
- Resilience and the ability to remain calm and consistent when situations become challenging
- An adaptable and creative approach to supporting different learning needs
- The ability to work collaboratively and contribute positively to a supportive team
- A genuine commitment to helping young people develop and achieve their potential
- A strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of young people
About us
Bower Lodge School is a specialist day school in Dibden, Southampton, for boys and girls aged 4–11 with a diagnosis of autism and complex learning, communication, and sensory needs.
With capacity for 40 pupils, we provide a small, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Our approach is tailored to each child’s individual strengths and needs. Through personalised learning and high levels of support, we help pupils thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
At Bower Lodge School, every child is valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.
For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone 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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