Animal Care Teaching Assistant

Job Title: Animal Care Teaching Assistant

Location: Wareham
Salary Range: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on experience)
Start time: Immediate
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Are you passionate about animals and dedicated to helping young people with SEN reach their potential?

GSL Education are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Animal Care Teaching Assistant to join an exceptional school in Wareham, supporting students aged 16-25+ with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Nestled within 350 acres of beautiful countryside, this school offers a hands-on, vocational learning experience—utilising animal care and other practical skills to equip students for successful, independent futures.

About the School: The school is an education setting based for 16 – 25+ years old with Special Educational Needs. It operates enterprise activities and vocational teaching methods to bridge the gap between education and employment for young people and adults with SEN in Dorset and the local area. The school focuses on vocations like horticulture, agriculture, equine skills and animal care to enrich the lives and education of its pupils.

Responsibilities of the Animal Care Teaching Assistant (TA):

• Assist students with SEN in animal care tasks like feeding, grooming, and handling animals, ensuring engagement and understanding.
• Support vocational lessons, helping students develop hands-on animal care skills for future employment.
• Provide tailored one-on-one or small group support to meet individual student needs.
• Collaborate with teachers to plan and adapt engaging animal care lessons for diverse learning abilities.
• Encourage independence, confidence, and self-esteem through practical learning.
• Build positive, supportive relationships with students to motivate and guide them.
• Ensure a safe, clean learning environment, maintaining animals and equipment.
• Help students apply classroom knowledge in real-world animal care situations.
• Work with the team to create an integrated, holistic learning approach.
• Monitor progress, provide feedback, and contribute to student development reports.

Requirements of the Animal Care Teaching Assistant (TA):

• Experience working with young people or adults with SEN is preferred.
• Passion for animal care and interest in vocational education, especially in animal care, agriculture, or land-based studies.
• Ability to support students with diverse SEN, demonstrating patience, empathy, and understanding.
• Strong communication skills, adapting to individual student needs and building positive relationships.
• Commitment to fostering independence and life skills, both academically and personally.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions, assisting with hands-on activities across the school’s 350-acre site.
• Experience or qualification in animal care, horticulture, agriculture, or related fields is a plus.
• Team player, able to collaborate with teachers, therapists, and support staff.
• A full UK driving licence is desirable.
• Level 2/3 Teaching Assistant qualification or certifications in animal care or SEN support are a bonus but not essential.
• Have an updated CV and an enhanced DBS registered to the update service (or be willing to apply for one).

If you are an enthusiastic and compassionate Animal Care Teaching Assistant (TA) ready to inspire and support students in their learning journey, we encourage you to apply and join our client school in Wareham.

Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection and that successful applicants must satisfy all background safer recruitment checks, including providing an enhanced DBS certificate registered on the update service or completing an application for a new check.

As an ethical, inclusive, and independent recruitment agency, GSL Education is committed to providing quality teaching and support staff in schools across the UK.

For more information or to register your interest in the Animal Care Teaching Assistant (TA) role, or to be considered, please click ‘apply now’ to submit your full and up-to-date CV, and one of our dedicated consultants will be in touch.