About Southwell Education
Southwell Education is an independent specialist school providing education for young people aged 11–16 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD and associated needs.
We provide a small, supportive and highly personalised learning environment where pupils are supported to overcome barriers to education, rebuild confidence and achieve positive academic, social and personal outcomes.
Our core values underpin everything we do:
Respect | Resilience | Curiosity | Kindness
Purpose of the Role
We are seeking a caring, enthusiastic and resilient Teaching Assistant to join our specialist team.
The successful candidate will work alongside teachers and other professionals to provide individual, small-group and whole-class support, helping pupils to access learning and make progress from their individual starting points.
Many of our pupils may have experienced disrupted education, difficulties with emotional regulation or previous negative experiences of school. The Teaching Assistant will therefore play an important role in creating a safe, consistent and encouraging learning environment.
The role requires someone who can build strong professional relationships with young people while maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations.
Key Responsibilities
The Teaching Assistant will:
- Support pupils individually, in small groups and within the classroom.
- Work under the direction of the class teacher to support effective teaching and learning.
- Help pupils understand instructions and access appropriately adapted learning activities.
- Provide appropriate prompting, modelling and scaffolding.
- Promote independence rather than creating unnecessary reliance on adult support.
- Support pupils with literacy, numeracy and wider curriculum activities.
- Reinforce learning previously introduced by the teacher.
- Help pupils organise themselves and prepare for lessons.
- Support pupils to remain engaged and focused during learning.
- Assist with the preparation and organisation of classroom resources.
- Provide teachers with useful feedback regarding pupil engagement, understanding and progress.
- Support educational visits, enrichment activities and learning outside the classroom where required.
SEND & EHCP Support
The Teaching Assistant will:
- Develop an understanding of the individual needs of pupils they support.
- Read and follow relevant information contained within pupils' EHCPs and individual support plans.
- Support pupils to work towards identified EHCP outcomes.
- Implement agreed classroom strategies and reasonable adaptations.
- Adapt communication and support for pupils with ASD, ADHD, SEMH and other additional needs.
- Recognise that behaviour may communicate an underlying need or difficulty.
- Maintain ambitious expectations for pupils regardless of their additional needs.
- Observe and record relevant evidence of progress where required.
- Contribute appropriate information to pupil reviews and planning.
Behaviour & Emotional Regulation
The successful candidate will:
- Build positive, consistent and professional relationships with pupils.
- Model calm, respectful and appropriate behaviour.
- Reinforce Southwell Education's expectations and values.
- Recognise early signs of anxiety, frustration or dysregulation.
- Use agreed individual regulation and de-escalation strategies.
- Avoid unnecessary confrontation and power struggles.
- Support pupils to develop strategies for managing their emotions and behaviour.
- Follow individual behaviour support plans and risk assessments.
- Seek additional assistance when required.
- Support pupils to regulate and successfully return to learning following difficulties.
- Participate in appropriate post-incident reflection and recording.
- Only use physical intervention where necessary, lawful, proportionate and in accordance with school policy and the training provided.
Promoting Independence
A key part of the role is helping pupils become less dependent upon adult support over time.
The Teaching Assistant will:
- Allow pupils appropriate processing and thinking time.
- Encourage pupils to attempt tasks independently before intervening.
- Use prompts and scaffolds rather than completing work for pupils.
- Encourage pupils to communicate directly with their teachers and peers.
- Recognise when support can appropriately be reduced.
- Help pupils develop confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills.
- Celebrate effort, progress and increasing independence.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at Southwell Education.
The Teaching Assistant must:
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Understand and follow current Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements and Southwell Education's safeguarding procedures.
- Remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation and other safeguarding concerns.
- Recognise the additional safeguarding vulnerabilities that can affect children with SEND.
- Listen appropriately if a pupil makes a disclosure.
- Never promise a pupil confidentiality regarding a safeguarding concern.
- Report safeguarding concerns immediately to the DSL or DDSL.
- Make accurate, factual records in accordance with school procedures.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with pupils at all times.
- Report concerns regarding the conduct of another adult through the appropriate safeguarding procedures.
- Complete all mandatory safeguarding training.
Working as Part of the Southwell Team
The Teaching Assistant will:
- Work collaboratively with teachers, Behaviour Mentors, pastoral staff and senior leaders.
- Communicate professionally with colleagues.
- Follow teacher direction while contributing relevant observations about pupils.
- Attend staff meetings, training and INSET where required.
- Participate in supervision and professional development.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Follow school policies and procedures.
- Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Contribute positively to the wider life of the school.
- Model Southwell Education's values of Respect, Resilience, Curiosity and Kindness.
Person SpecificationEssential
We are looking for someone who:
- Has a genuine passion for working with children and young people with SEND.
- Has experience of supporting children or young people in education, SEND, SEMH, youth work, care or a similar setting.
- Has good literacy and numeracy skills.
- Can build positive relationships with young people while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Is patient, resilient and emotionally consistent.
- Can remain calm when pupils are anxious, distressed or dysregulated.
- Has high expectations of pupils and believes in their ability to achieve.
- Can work effectively as part of a team.
- Is reliable, organised and professional.
- Is willing to undertake relevant training.
- Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- Supports the ethos, vision and values of Southwell Education.
Desirable
- Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning, Teaching Assistance, SEND or a related area.
- Previous experience within a specialist SEND school or alternative provision.
- Experience supporting pupils with SEMH.
- Experience supporting pupils with ASD and/or ADHD.
- Experience working with EHCPs.
- Knowledge of positive behaviour support and de-escalation approaches.
- Relevant safeguarding, first aid or SEND training.
What We Offer
Southwell Education can offer:
- Competitive salary.
- Workplace pension.
- Term-time working.
- Small pupil groups.
- A highly personalised approach to education.
- A supportive and approachable leadership team.
- Regular support and supervision.
- Excellent professional development opportunities.
- Specialist SEND, SEMH, safeguarding and behaviour training.
- Opportunities to develop professionally as Southwell Education grows.
- A creative and flexible curriculum tailored to pupils' individual needs.
- The opportunity to make a genuine difference to young people's educational experiences and future outcomes.
Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment
Southwell Education Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointment will be subject to Southwell Education's safer recruitment procedures and appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List information where applicable, identity and right-to-work verification, satisfactory professional references, employment-history scrutiny and qualification checks where relevant.
An online search may be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of our safer recruitment due diligence. Any relevant matters identified will be considered fairly and may be discussed with the candidate during the recruitment process.
Southwell Education Ltd is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.
Pay: £19,000.00-£25,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Kidderminster, Worcestershire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Location:
- Kidderminster, Worcestershire (preferred)
Work Location: In person
