Teaching Assistant

OFG Education; Shifnal; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Discounts

Job summary

OFG Education is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant for Higford School, near Shifnal. You will work with teachers and therapists to support students with autism and additional needs, helping them engage with learning and develop key life skills.

Applicants with experience in education or SEN settings are preferred; full training will be provided. A full UK driving licence is required for certain duties and transport support may be available.

Qualifications

• Experience in education, childcare, care, youth work or SEN settings.
• Full UK driving licence required.
• Training will be provided for the right person.

Responsibilities

• Support students with Autism and additional needs in lessons and throughout the day.
• Encourage engagement, confidence, and independence.
• Help deliver tailored learning activities and interventions.
• Provide emotional support and positive behaviour guidance.
• Build strong relationships with students and families.
• Support learning inside and outside the classroom.

Skills

Caring

Patience

Teamwork

Relationship-building

Job description

Teaching Assistant

Higford School

• Nr Shifnal
• Permanent

Salary: £23,638 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

• Job Title: Teaching Assistant
• Location: Higford School, Near Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9ET
• Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am - 4pm
• Salary: £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
• Contract: Permanent | Term Time
• Start: November 2026
• UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Higford School, no two days are the same, and every small step forward is worth celebrating.

We're looking for a dedicated and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join our specialist education team, supporting students with Autism and additional needs. This is more than just a classroom support role. It's an opportunity to help young people develop confidence, independence, communication skills, and achieve outcomes that can genuinely change their future.

Whether you're already working in education, care, support work, youth work, or childcare, if you're passionate about helping young people reach their potential, we'd love to hear from you.

As a Teaching Assistant, you'll work closely with teachers and therapists to provide personalised support that helps students engage with learning, build confidence and develop important life skills.

You’ll play a vital role in creating a positive, nurturing environment where students feel safe, supported and able to thrive

What you’ll do:

• Supporting students with Autism and additional needs in lessons and throughout the school day
• Encouraging engagement, confidence and independence
• Helping deliver tailored learning activities and interventions
• Providing emotional support and positive behaviour guidance
• Building strong, trusting relationships with students
• Supporting learning both inside and outside the classroom
• Working collaboratively with teachers, families and other professionals

Who we’re looking for:

• Caring, patient and resilient
• Passionate about supporting young people with additional needs
• A positive role model who can build strong relationships
• Comfortable working as part of a team
• Confident supporting students through challenges and celebrating their successes

You’ll ideally have experience in education, childcare, care, youth work or SEN settings, although full training will be provided for the right person.

A full UK 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 as 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

Options Higford is a specialist school set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside. We provide a high quality, holistic education for up to 60 autistic students who also have associated behavioural needs. Class groups have five students in with at least 1:1 staffing. We provide personalised curriculums for each student based on their individual needs and aim to support them to make progress academically, socially, with skills for life, regulating their emotions and accessing the community.

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 £43,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 Hours per Week, Monday to Friday

Hours: 20 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.