Teaching Assistant

Orchard Hill College; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS/TPS pension

Salary sacrifice schemes

Wellbeing support

Employee discounts

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is seeking Teaching Assistants for Bedelsford Chaucer Centre, a satellite site in the London Borough of Merton. You will support learners with diverse SEN needs, helping them access the curriculum and develop social, emotional, and academic skills under teacher guidance.

Role involves personal care, potential medical interventions, and use of ICT; GCSEs in Literacy/Numeracy required.

Qualifications

• GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in Literacy and Numeracy.
• Experience of working with, or caring for children.
• Commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children.
• Willingness and ability to learn new skills in relation to SEN including medical and personal care needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent learning support under the teacher's direction.
• Assist with personal care needs as per school procedures.
• Administer medical interventions as required.
• Support teaching and learning activities, including the use of ICT and communication aids.
• Help manage the classroom, ensuring a supportive learning environment.

Education

GCSE in Literacy and Numeracy (A-C)

Job description

Working Pattern: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8.30am - 3.35pm. On Wednesday 8.30am - 4.30pm & Friday 8.30 - 3.30pm with a 30-minute (unpaid) lunch break each day.

The Department for Education (DfE) granted permission for Bedelsford School to open a temporary satellite site in Merton for children with special education needs in the London Borough of Merton in September 2025. The School is located in The Chaucer Centre, a former school building located in the St Helier neighbourhood. The Centre was previously used by Merton Council as a training centre but has been adapted to meet the need for specialist education places in the borough.

In the first year the centre will provide 40 places and will have the potential to increase up to 80 children over a three-year period. Pupils and staff will transfer from the Chaucer Centre to a brand-new Free School which is scheduled to open in the borough in September 2028. Both the temporary provision and the new Free School will provide places for children who have a range of moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs. This is likely to include Speech Language and Communication Needs and may also include Autism Spectrum Conditions and other associated areas of need.

We are looking for passionate and dedicated Teaching Assistants to join the team at our satellite site. As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of our learners. You will provide tailored support to students with diverse learning needs, helping them access the curriculum, engage in classroom activities, and develop their social, emotional, and academic skills. Your role will be key in creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere where each student feels supported and valued.

• Provide excellent learning support under the teacher's direction
• Assist with personal care needs as per school procedures
• Administer medical interventions as required
• Support teaching and learning activities, including the use of ICT and communication aids
• Help manage the classroom, ensuring a supportive learning environment
• GCSE grade A - C or equivalent in Literacy and Numeracy
• Experience of working with, or caring for children
• Commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• Willingness and ability to learn new skills in relation to SEN including medical and personal care needs

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work - visit our 'Work for Us' page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day. Our Trust: The Bedelsford Chaucer Centre is a satellite provision to Bedelsford School, which is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre‑school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please our website. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.