Teaching Assistant

OFG Education; Kirkby Lonsdale; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel allowance

Job summary

OFG Education is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant for Underley Garden School in Kirkby Lonsdale. You will support personal, social and academic development across a 24-hour curriculum, working with teachers and pastoral staff to promote wellbeing and independence.

The role involves assisting with learning activities, behaviour support, enrichment, and safeguarding. A driving licence is required, and the post includes a travel allowance. Start: January 2027.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting students with learning difficulties or disabilities is desirable.
• Ability to work closely with teachers and pastoral staff.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of young people.

Responsibilities

• Build positive relationships and provide pastoral guidance to promote wellbeing.
• Encourage positive behaviour and apply behaviour support strategies.
• Assist with out-of-school learning, trips, events and enrichment activities.
• Help monitor and record progress, contribute to assessments and student paperwork.
• Support students with personal and medical care needs as required.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive learning environment across the school day.
• Support teachers with learning activities, helping individuals and small groups to engage and progress.

Skills

Compassionate

Patience

Team player

Safeguarding

Driving licence

Job description

Enter your postcode, then select the range below

• Range

Teaching Assistant

• Kirkby Lonsdale
• Permanent

Salary: £24,619.20 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

At OFG Education we believe in creating a better work life balance

Job Title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2DZ
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8.00am – 4.00pm
Salary: £24,619.20 per annum (not pro rata) + Travel allowance
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: January 2027
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people with complex learning difficulties and disabilities? Do you thrive in a supportive, collaborative environment where every day brings new opportunities to inspire, guide and empower? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We are seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to join our vibrant school community. In this role, you’ll work closely with teachers and pastoral staff to support the personal, social and academic development of our young people across a 24‑hour curriculum.

What you will be doing

• Building positive relationships and providing pastoral guidance to promote wellbeing and independence.
• Encouraging positive behaviour and applying behaviour support strategies in line with school policies.
• Assisting with out‑of‑school learning, trips, events and enrichment activities.
• Helping monitor and record progress, contributing to assessment and supporting the completion of student paperwork.
• Supporting young people with personal and medical care needs where required.
• Contributing to a positive, inclusive learning environment across the school day and wider curriculum.
• Supporting teachers with learning activities, helping individuals and small groups to engage, progress and achieve.

What you will bring

• Compassionate, patient and resilient.
• Able to build positive, trusting relationships with young people.
• A team player who communicates well with colleagues and families.
• Willing to support all aspects of school life — from learning to personal care to enrichment activities.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
• Driving licence is required

About Us

At OFG Education, we believe every student deserves an education designed around who they are. Through high expectations, deep expertise and truly personalised education, we help students realise their potential and prepare for successful futures.

Building on more than 20 years of experience, we are bringing our approach to more students and communities around the world. Across the UK, Iberia and the Gulf, our schools combine the strength, expertise and high standards of an international education group with the individuality of each school and the communities they serve.

Whatever your role, joining OFG Education means contributing to our shared ambition: empowering every student to success through truly personalised education.

About Our School

Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on students, aged 5-19, who have a range of complex needs associated with autism and learning disabilities, including complex communication, sensory and behavioural needs associated with their disabilities.

Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our students and endeavours to ensure that they achieve as high a standard as possible. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of education and therapy to meet the individual requirements of students with complex special educational needs. We have developed our own curriculum pathways, to support the diverse needs of our young people, allowing each student to reach their full potential.

At Underley Garden, we aim to make a positive difference to the personal, social and learning lives of the people entrusted to our care.

Located near the market town of Kirkby Lonsdale on the edge of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. We are in a commutable distance from areas within Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students 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 students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• 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

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education 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, OFG Education 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

Wherever you work – whether in a city location or one of our more rural settings – you’ll be part of one dynamic family, aiming high and dreaming big, and helping the people we work with achieve their own personal goals

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

With amazing teams working across our family of brands – Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools– we offer a huge range of exciting career opportunities.

Meeting the social and emotional needs of pupils who have faced trauma or adversity, equipping them for life’s important steps.

Supporting autistic pupils to value their uniqueness and access the world in their own way.

At Momenta Connect we support young people to overcome barriers and engage with education.

We are committed to enabling outstanding futures for all children through a portfolio of inclusive, high-quality independent and international schools.