Job Title: Teaching Assistant
- Location: Based near Whitchurch, Shropshire SY13
- Salary: £22,634 Actual salary term-time only
- Hours: 37.5 hours per week, across 5 days 08:30 - 16:00
- Weeks: 39. Term time, plus 5 days (or equivalent hours) for attendance at training / meetings.
- Contract: Permanent.
- Company Pension Scheme
- START DATE: September 2026
Please note: UK Applicants only. We are unable to offer sponsorship visas.
About Us:
We are a specialist independent school based in Shropshire, providing education for pupils aged 11–18 who are at risk of, or have experienced, exploitation.
Our school offers highly individualised educational provision for young people who need exceptional levels of understanding, consistency, and continuity. We achieve this through an integrated, therapeutic approach that places relationships, wellbeing, and trust at the heart of learning.
Our pupils are highly capable and make rapid progress across a range of qualifications. To support this, we are committed to employing caring, dependable adults who invest in our young people, inspire curiosity, and ignite a passion for learning through creative and engaging approaches.
Benefits you can expect:
- Term-Time working
- Free Parking
- Competitive salary
- Fully funded qualifications* and Career Development Pathway
- Supportive and inclusive working environment
- £150 annual wellbeing allowance*
- Life insurance from day one (3x annual salary)
- Free specialist training
- Referral scheme – earn £500 for every successful referral*
- Fully paid induction programme
- Company pension scheme
- *T&C's Apply
Role Overview
We are seeking a dedicated, resilient, and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join our therapeutic school team. In this rewarding role, you will provide tailored support to pupils both in and out of the classroom, helping them to engage in learning, develop socially and emotionally, and achieve positive outcomes.
Working under the direction of teaching staff, you will adapt your communication and support strategies to meet individual needs, encouraging progress while helping pupils to regulate their emotions and behaviours. You will play a key role in reducing anxiety, promoting positive behaviour, and enabling pupils to participate fully in school life.
Many of our pupils have experienced significant physical and emotional trauma and may present with behaviours that challenge. The successful candidate will therefore need to be calm, patient, and emotionally resilient, with the ability to remain a consistent and supportive presence during difficult situations. The role can be physically demanding at times, requiring the ability to respond appropriately to the varied task of each day (including interventions, driving, light lifting and carrying).
This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people by helping them build confidence, develop positive relationships, and reach their full potential within a nurturing and therapeutic educational environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver individualised support to pupils to enhance learning, emotional wellbeing, and social development in classroom and wider school settings.
- Use adaptable and responsive communication strategies that meet individual pupil needs and promote consistent progress.
- Positively manage and support pupil behaviour through praise, guidance, and emotional regulation strategies, to reduce anxiety and encourage full participation.
- Understand, embody, and role model Physis Care’s cultural values and behavioural expectations as a leading provider of therapeutic education.
- Participate fully in all mandatory and role-specific training to ensure best practice.
- Actively promote the safeguarding, welfare, and wellbeing of all children at all times.
- Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team to support pupils’ needs and contribute to the wider objectives of the school.
The Requirements
- Good standard of general education with at least GCSE grade 5/C (or equivalent) in Mathematics and English
- Experience working with young people in an education or care home setting (essential).
- Experience working with young people with additional learning needs, SEND etc (desirable).
- Able to carry out physical intervention as part of the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training (essential).
- Level 2 Award (or higher) in Supporting Teaching & Learning in School, or equivalent professional qualification (Desirable)
- Nationally recognised training in related fields of knowledge e.g. specific subjects, teaching & learning pedagogy, or SEN. (Desirable)
- A full UK driving licence, with the ability and willingness to drive company vehicles.
- Eligibility to work in the UK
Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Any unspent conviction/cautions should be declared at the point of application. Any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 should also be declared.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: From £22,634.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Experience:
- Working with young people with additional learning needs: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- Level 2 in Supporting Teaching & Learning, or equivalent (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
