Teaching Assistant

Witherslack Group; Chigwell; On-site; GBP 29,759 - 36,372; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full school holidays

Medical cover

Flexible benefits

Contributory pension (matched up to 5%)

Recommend a friend scheme (£1,000 bonus)

Job summary

Witherslack Group in Chigwell seeks a dedicated Teaching Assistant to work with young people with special educational needs, particularly Autistic Spectrum Disorder. You’ll play a vital role in helping them achieve personal milestones and develop their abilities.

As part of a supportive team, you will celebrate small victories that make a big difference in students' lives. The role offers a full induction, on-the-job training, and a variety of benefits, including a contributory pension and medical cover. Inclusivity is at the core of our mission.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people, especially with special educational needs.
• Resilience and dedication to help young people develop self-esteem.
• Ability to connect and inspire diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Support children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and emotional needs.
• Help young people learn and develop their abilities.
• Celebrate small victories in students' progress.

Skills

Can do attitude

Experience in a classroom

Passion for supporting children

Team player

Job description

Salary and Benefits

Up to £33,066 + excellent benefits

Those Huge Small Victories

Our Teaching Assistants are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference.

Check out this video on what life as a Teaching Assistant at Witherslack Group is like!

Get out what you put in

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. You’ll be there to help them learn, develop their abilities and raise their self‑esteem. You will need to be resilient and dedicated, but those huge small victories that you achieve will be something you’re really proud of.

It can be a tough journey, but the positive steps forward will more than make up for it. As a Teaching Assistant at Witherslack Group, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed. Your colleagues will be the best at what they do, the school environments will be well‑resourced and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you build a rewarding teaching career.

One of the best environments in SEND

Luxborough Court School is a purpose‑built school registered for 150 pupils aged 5 – 19 with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. There is a large sports hall with changing facilities (the site was formally a Premier League football club’s training ground), a bespoke 6th form suite plus a number of other smaller individual spaces used for therapeutic intervention and bespoke support. The School benefits from extensive outdoor space plus a large central courtyard garden in the centre of the school and separate secondary and junior playgrounds, with a multi‑use games area.

There are good public transport connections with Chigwell Station less than a mile away, providing Central Line Tube services to London and Essex. The road links are good – the site is located near the M11, Junction 4.

What we do for you

Benefits

• Training: A full induction and on‑the‑job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers and leaders have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an optician’s or dentist appointment and a host of high‑street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time
• Contributory pension (matched up to 5%)

Bring your whole‑self to work

Our Young People Come From All Walks Of Life, Diverse Backgrounds And With Different Needs – And Our Workforce Reflects That Diversity, So That Our Teams Can Engage, Encourage And Inspire Our Young People To Be Themselves. You’ll Be More Than a Teaching Assistant, You’ll Be Able To Connect With Our Pupils Because Of

• Your ‘can do’ attitude – a team player who rolls up their sleeves to help others
• Ideally you’ll have experience working in a classroom, but if not, we can provide you with all the relevant training
• Your genuine passion for supporting children to learn and the impact it can have on their lives
• Your enthusiasm and expertise to support the teacher and work closely with our therapists

Interested in joining us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong.

As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference – especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.