Teaching Assistant

Hillingdon Manor School; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible Benefits Platform

Job summary

Smallbrook School in Shrewsbury is seeking a caring SEN Teaching Assistant to join our supportive team and help pupils overcome barriers to learning. You’ll support children with SEND, including social, emotional and mental health needs and autism, delivering personalised activities with teachers and therapists to foster confidence and independence.

The role runs 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with a permanent contract and a salary of £22,160.62 per annum, start October 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with SEND.
• Patience and ability to stay calm in challenging situations.
• Ability to build positive relationships and support learners.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual, small group and classroom support, helping pupils engage with education and achieve their individual goals.
• Build positive and trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe, understood and ready to learn.
• Support teachers in delivering creative, engaging and personalised learning activities.
• Encourage pupils to develop confidence, communication, independence and important life skills.
• Help pupils understand and regulate their emotions using calm, consistent and positive approaches.
• Get involved in classroom learning, practical activities, outdoor education and enrichment opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and other professionals to provide consistent support.
• Celebrate progress and contribute to a nurturing and inclusive environment where every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.

Job description

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Teaching Assistant

Smallbrook School

• Shrewsbury
• Permanent

Salary: £22,160.62 per annum

Hours: 37.5 Hours per Week, Monday to Friday

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Smallbrook School, Shrewsbury, SY4 3HE
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 8.45am - 4.20pm
Salary: £22,160.62 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Build Trust. Inspire Confidence. Help Young People Discover What They Can Achieve.

At Smallbrook School, we’re looking for caring, positive and resilient SEN Teaching Assistants to join our supportive team and help young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve meaningful progress.

You’ll support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including social, emotional and mental health needs and Autism. By getting to know each pupil, understanding their individual needs and recognising their strengths, you’ll help create an environment where they feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

No two days will look exactly the same. You could be supporting learning in the classroom, working individually with a pupil, taking part in practical activities or getting involved in outdoor learning and enrichment. Alongside experienced teachers, therapists and other professionals, you’ll play an important part in helping pupils develop the confidence, independence and skills they need for their future.

What you will be doing

• Provide individual, small group and classroom support, helping pupils engage with education and achieve their individual goals
• Build positive and trusting relationships that help pupils feelsafe, understood and ready to learn
• Support teachers in delivering creative, engaging and personalised learning activities
• Encourage pupils to developconfidence, communication, independence and important life skills
• Help pupils understand and regulate their emotions using calm, consistent and positive approaches
• Get involved in classroom learning, practical activities, outdoor education and enrichment opportunities
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and other professionals to provide consistent support
• Celebrate progress and contribute to a nurturing and inclusive environment where every pupil has the opportunity to succeed

What We’re Looking For

More than anything, we’re looking for people who understand the importance of building positive relationships with young people and providing consistent, individualised support.

You’ll be someone who:

• Genuinely wants to make a difference to children and young people with SEND
• Is patient, caring and able to remain calm when situations become challenging
• Can build strong relationships and encourage young people who may have experienced barriers to education
• Is positive, resilient and able to adapt your approach around individual needs
• Enjoys working collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Is flexible, enthusiastic and willing to get involved in all aspects of school life
• Is committed to safeguarding and helping every pupil achieve their potential

About Us

Smallbrook School is currently increasing capacity from 50 students to 80 and having a large investment in our school site developing KS2 and sixth form provision. We are a co-educational day school catering for pupils aged 7-18 with a range of complex needs including a range of social, emotional and mental health needs and also pupils who have been diagnosed with autism or demonstrate behaviours associated with autism.

You will contribute to making Smallbrook School an outstanding provision for our young people and their families. We provide a therapeutic, supportive and inclusive learning environment and are committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise their potential and supporting them through a personalised, engaging curriculum. Our priority is to develop the foundation knowledge and skills required to make a manageable and smooth transition to the next life stage.

Our School is based halfway between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils 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 pupils 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

Outcomes First Group 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, Outcomes First Group 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.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: Up to £27,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Hours: 20 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.