Teaching Assistant

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

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Discounts & perks

Cycle to Work Scheme

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Job summary

OFG Education is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant at Bower Lodge School in Southampton. You will support students with diverse learning needs, delivering one-to-one and small-group learning activities, and helping create a positive, nurturing classroom environment.

The role is permanent and term-time only, starting December 2026. You will work with teachers to foster confidence, resilience and inclusive learning, ensuring every student feels valued and supported.

Qualifications

• Provide personalised one-to-one support that makes learning accessible.
• Deliver small-group activities to encourage participation and progress.
• Build trusting relationships to help students feel safe and understood.
• Encourage independence and resilience in learners with diverse needs.

Responsibilities

• Support students alongside teachers to develop essential skills.
• Adapt activities to meet individual learning needs and styles.
• Contribute to a calm, positive classroom environment.
• Support positive behaviour and wellbeing through consistent approaches.

Skills

One-to-one support

Small-group support

Building relationships

Encouragement

Communication skills

Job description

Teaching Assistant

Bower Lodge School

• Southampton
• Permanent

Salary: £23,080.50 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

At OFG Education we work smarter so that you can enjoy the things that matter outside of work

• Job Title: Teaching Assistant
• Location: Bower Lodge School, Dibden, Southampton, SO45 5TD
• Hours: 37.5 per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 4.30pm
• 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

Looking for a career where your encouragement can build confidence, your patience can open doors and your support can change a young person's future? At Bower Lodge School, we're looking for a caring, enthusiastic and resilient Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated team and help create positive learning experiences for students who need someone to believe in them.

You don't need to have all the answers. Sometimes, being the person who listens, encourages and never gives up on a young person can make the biggest difference.

You'll work alongside teachers and colleagues to support students with different learning needs, helping them overcome challenges, develop new skills and discover what they're capable of achieving.

From making a difficult lesson feel manageable to helping a student find the confidence to participate, build friendships or try something new, you'll be part of the moments that really matter.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll bring energy, creativity and compassion into the classroom, helping to create a positive, structured and nurturing environment where every student feels valued and supported.

Whether you're an experienced Teaching Assistant or looking to bring your skills from care, childcare, youth work, coaching or another supportive profession into education, we'd love to hear from you.

What you will bring

• Help students achieve their potential, providing personalised one-to-one and small-group support that makes learning accessible, engaging and rewarding.
• Bring enthusiasm into the classroom, working alongside teachers to deliver creative activities and learning experiences that encourage participation and progress.
• Build relationships that matter, becoming a positive, trusted presence who helps students feel safe, understood and confident.
• Encourage independence and resilience, supporting students to develop communication, social skills and the confidence to overcome everyday challenges.
• Make learning feel achievable, adapting your approach to suit individual needs, abilities and learning styles.
• Support positive behaviour and wellbeing, using calm, consistent and encouraging approaches to help students manage emotions and engage successfully.
• Celebrate the little wins and big breakthroughs, recognising individual achievements and helping students take pride in their progress.
• Create a place where students can thrive, contributing to a safe, inclusive and supportive school environment alongside teachers and colleagues.

Who We're Looking For

We're not just looking at what's on your CV. We're looking for someone with the right attitude, the patience to understand and the determination to help young people succeed.

You might already work in education, or you could have valuable transferable experience from care, childcare, youth work, coaching or support services.

You’ll bring:

• A genuine passion for working with children and young people and helping them achieve their potential.
• A caring, patient and understanding nature, with the ability to build positive, trusting relationships.
• A calm, resilient and positive approach, particularly when supporting students through challenging situations.
• The creativity and flexibility to adapt activities and support to suit different learning needs.
• Strong communication and listening skills, with the ability to encourage, motivate and reassure students.
• A collaborative attitude and enthusiasm for working alongside teachers and other colleagues.
• A proactive, reliable and enthusiastic approach, with a willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and creating an environment where every student feels respected and supported.

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 succeed through truly personalised education.

About the School

Bower Lodge School is a specialist day school in Dibden, Southampton, for boys and girls aged 4–11 with a diagnosis of autism and complex learning, communication, and sensory needs.

With capacity for 40 students, we provide a small, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Our approach is tailored to each child’s individual strengths and needs. Through personalised learning and high levels of support, we help students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

At Bower Lodge School, every child is valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.

At OFG Education, we provide specialist education for learners who need a deeper level of understanding, expertise and support than mainstream education can typically offer. We support students with a wide range of complex, co-occurring and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia and experiences of trauma or adversity.

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

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.