SEN Teaching Assistant

Outcomes First Group; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 19,944 - 24,376; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

Outcomes First Group is seeking a SEN Teaching Assistant at Smallbrook School in Shrewsbury. In this role, you will support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a collaborative team environment. Your main focus will be to help each learner achieve personal goals through tailored support and engaging activities.

This permanent position requires a caring and resilient individual who can build trust with pupils and families. A salary of £22,160.62 per annum is offered along with a variety of benefits including life assurance and mental health support.

Qualifications

• Genuine desire to help young people with SEND thrive.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a supportive team.
• Build trust with pupils, colleagues, and families.

Responsibilities

• Support children with SEND to access learning.
• Assist with engaging activities tailored to individual needs.
• Provide emotional and practical support to pupils.

Skills

Caring and patient

Flexible and enthusiastic

Resilient and positive

Confident communicator

Job description

Full Job Description

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title: SEN Teaching Assistant

Location: Smallbrook School, Shrewsbury, SY4 3HE

Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 8:45am - 4:20pm

Salary: £22,160.62 per annum (not pro rata)

Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only

Start: September 2026

UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Build a career where every day you help young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) achieve more than they ever imagined. As a SEN Teaching Assistant, you’ll be part of a warm, collaborative team dedicated to helping each learner feel safe, confident and ready to engage.

What you will be doing

• Supporting children and young people with SEND, including complex needs, to access learning and achieve personal goals
• Assisting with engaging classroom, outdoor and enrichment activities tailored to individual needs
• Providing emotional, behavioural and practical support to help pupils feel safe, valued and understood
• Encouraging independence, communication, positive relationships and social development

What you will bring

• Caring, patient and adaptable, with a genuine desire to help young people with SEND thrive
• Resilient, positive and able to work collaboratively within a supportive team
• A confident communicator who builds trust with pupils, colleagues and families
• Flexible, enthusiastic and ready to support learning in a range of settings and situations

About Us

Smallbrook School is currently increasing capacity from 50 students to 80 and has a large investment in our school site developing KS2 and sixth form provision. We are a co‑educational day school catering for pupils aged 7‑18 with a range of complex needs, including social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as pupils diagnosed with autism or displaying autism‑associated behaviours. You will help make Smallbrook School an outstanding provision for our young people and their families. We provide a therapeutic, supportive and inclusive learning environment and are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential through a personalised, engaging curriculum. Our priority is to develop foundational knowledge and skills required for a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.

Our School is based half‑way between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence‑based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group was 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.

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.

Benefits

• 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