Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant

GUARDIAN SELECTION LIMITED; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Job Title: Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant (SEN TA)
Location: Dorchester
Salary Range: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on experience)
Start time: Immediate
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Love the outdoors and passionate about supporting young people with SEN? If so, GSL Education are on the lookout for a dedicated and enthusiastic Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant to join a welcoming school in Dorchester. This is not your typical classroom role—here, learning happens through hands-on vocational experiences such as horticulture, animal care, agriculture, and more.

About the School: The school is an education setting based for 16 – 25+ years old with Special Educational Needs. It is based on 350 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside. The school 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 as well as many more, to enrich the lives and education of its pupils.

Responsibilities of the Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant (SEN TA):

• Support Vocational Learning: Assist students in hands-on activities such as horticulture, agriculture, equine care, and animal handling—ensuring they are engaged, safe, and progressing within these enterprise-focused lessons.
• Enable Independence: Encourage and guide learners to develop essential life and work-related skills, promoting independence and confidence in both academic and practical settings.
• Personalised Student Support: Provide tailored one-on-one or small group support based on individual education plans (IEPs), taking into account a range of special educational needs and abilities.
• Collaborate with the Team: Work closely with teachers, therapists, and enterprise staff to deliver a cohesive and holistic learning experience that blends academic development with vocational education.
• Promote Emotional Wellbeing: Build positive and trusting relationships with students, offering emotional regulation support and fostering a calm and nurturing environment.
• Facilitate Outdoor Learning: Assist in delivering learning experiences across the 350-acre countryside site, including support in outdoor classrooms, greenhouses, stables, or open farmland.
• Monitor and Report Progress: Observe and document student development and wellbeing, reporting insights to teaching staff and contributing to reviews and progress plans.
• Support Daily Routines: Help students navigate their daily schedules—from lessons to lunch and breaks to practical work—ensuring a consistent, structured, and supportive day.

Requirements of the Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant (SEN TA):

• Experience with SEN: Previous experience supporting young people or adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN), especially those with moderate to complex needs, is highly desirable.
• Passion for Practical Learning: A genuine interest in vocational education—particularly in areas such as horticulture, agriculture, equine care, or animal husbandry—is essential to thrive in this setting.
• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to build positive, respectful relationships with students, colleagues, and families, while adapting communication styles to suit individual learning needs.
• Patience and Empathy: A calm, compassionate approach with the emotional intelligence to support students through both academic and personal challenges.
• Adaptability and Initiative: A flexible mindset, capable of working outdoors in varied weather conditions and adapting to dynamic learning environments.
• Team Player: Willingness to work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team including teachers, therapists, and vocational instructors.
• Commitment to Inclusion: A belief in inclusive education and the potential of every student, with a readiness to actively support this mission.
• Driving Licence (Essential): Due to the rural location and nature of the role, a full UK driving licence and access to transport are highly advantageous.
• Relevant Qualifications (Desirable): Level 2 or 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or related certifications in SEN support, animal care, or land-based studies would be beneficial.
• DBS: 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‘Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant (SEN TA)’ ready to inspire and support students in their learning journey, we encourage you to apply and join our client school in Dorchester.

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 are committed to providing quality teaching and support staff in schools across the UK.

For more information or to register your interest in the ‘Outdoor SEN Teaching Assistant (SEN 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.