Teaching Assistant

OFG Education; North East; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension

Wellbeing support

Discounts

Cycle to Work

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Job summary

Strawberry Lane School, part of OFG Education, is seeking an experienced Teaching Assistant to support students with Complex Autism Spectrum Condition in a specialist setting. The role focuses on providing individualised support from day one and working closely with teachers, therapists and pastoral staff to understand communication, sensory and learning needs.

You will help students regulate, engage with education, develop independence and make meaningful progress at their own pace, recognising

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with Complex ASC and related needs.
• Experience in specialist education settings is advantageous.
• Ability to implement individualised strategies and adapt approaches.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality 1:1, small-group and classroom support for students with Complex ASC and additional needs.
• Adapt support to individual communication, sensory, emotional and learning needs.
• Support students with emotional regulation and behaviours using calm, consistent strategies.
• Collaborate with teachers and therapists to implement personalised learning plans.
• Build trusting relationships to help students feel safe and engaged.
• Promote communication, independence, resilience and life skills.
• Identify triggers and respond to changes in presentation, sharing observations with the team.
• Support learning beyond the classroom through outdoor activities and educational visits.

Skills

Complex ASC experience

SEN support

Communication skills

Job description

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• Range

Teaching Assistant

• Permanent

Salary: £23,080.50 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

At OFG Education we believe in giving you more time to do the things you love outside of work

Job Title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Strawberry Lane School, Durham,DH6 5BE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Salary: £23,080.50 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: December 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Strawberry Lane School, we’re looking for an experienced and confident Teaching Assistant with a strong background supporting children and young people with Complex Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

This is an opportunity for someone who already understands the rewards and challenges of specialist education and can bring the knowledge, confidence and resilience needed to provide high-quality, individualised support from day one.

You’ll work closely with teachers, therapists and pastoral colleagues to understand each student’s communication, sensory, emotional and learning needs. Using your experience, you’ll help students regulate, engage with education, develop independence and make meaningful progress at their own pace.

We’re looking for someone who can recognise when a student needs encouragement, when an approach needs adapting and when providing calm, consistent support can prevent a challenging situation from escalating.

For an experienced TA who wants to use their skills in a specialist environment where relationships, individual progress and positive outcomes really matter, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide high-quality 1:1, small-group and classroom support for students with Complex ASC and additional needs.
• Use your knowledge and experience to adapt support around individual communication, sensory, emotional and learning needs.
• Support students with emotional regulation and behaviours that may challenge using calm, consistent and appropriate strategies.
• Work alongside teachers and therapists to implement personalised learning and support strategies.
• Build strong, trusting and appropriately boundaried relationships that help students feel safe and able to engage.
• Promote communication, independence, confidence, resilience and essential life skills.
• Recognise triggers, changes in presentation and barriers to engagement, responding proactively and sharing observations with the wider team.
• Support learning beyond the classroom through practical activities, outdoor learning, enrichment and educational visits.

Who we are looking for

We’re Looking for Experience, Confidence and the Ability to ConnectThis role would suit an established Teaching Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant or specialist support professional who has significant experience supporting children or young people with complex needs.

You’ll need to:

• Have strong, demonstrable experience supporting individuals with Complex ASC.
• Have experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs and/or behaviours that may challenge.
• Understand how autism can affect communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation and engagement with learning.
• Be confident implementing individualised strategies and adapting your approach when a student’s needs change.
• Be calm and resilient, with the ability to respond confidently and appropriately in challenging situations.
• Have excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Be able to recognise and respond to individual behaviours, triggers and communication needs.
• Work confidently alongside teachers, therapists, pastoral colleagues and other professionals.
• Be proactive, reliable and able to use your initiative while working within agreed plans and approaches.
• Be committed to safeguarding and achieving the best possible outcomes for every student.

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

Strawberry Lane School is a brand-new specialist school in Bowburn, Durham, supporting 60 students aged 11–19 with autism, communication needs, and additional complex needs. In a nurturing and inclusive environment, students receive personalised support to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. The school celebrates each learner’s strengths while providing structure, guidance, and encouragement. Strawberry Lane empowers every young person to thrive and reach their full potential.

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

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

Salary: Up to £53,200 FTE (dependent on experience)

Hours: 22.5 hours per week (3 days) Monday - Friday 08.30am - 16.30pm

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon- Fri 8.30am-4.30pm

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.Take a closer look and discover how fulfilling your career could be.

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.