Teaching Assistant

Hillingdon Manor School; Southampton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Health and wellbeing benefits

Staff discounts

Job summary

Dibden Park School in Southampton is seeking a Teaching Assistant to provide compassionate support to pupils. You will work alongside experienced teachers and a wider team to help pupils access learning and develop confidence and independence.

The role focuses on building trust, encouraging positive behaviours and inclusive learning environments, with responsibilities across the school day and opportunities to celebrate progress and student growth.

Qualifications

• Experience in education not required; right attitude and resilience.
• Ability to build trust and support pupils' learning.
• Patience, empathy, and enthusiasm to engage young people.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils individually and in small groups to access learning.
• Collaborate with teachers to deliver engaging activities.
• Encourage confidence, independence and positive relationships.
• Support emotional wellbeing and positive behaviours.
• Create an inclusive learning environment.
• Participate in activities across the school day.
• Celebrate pupil progress.

Skills

Driving licence

Compassionate and patient

Job description

Enter your postcode, then select the range below

• Range

Teaching Assistant

• Southampton
• Permanent

Salary: £23,638 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Job title: Teaching Assistant
Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Salary: £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available

About the Role

Do you have the patience to understand a child, the creativity to inspire them, and the determination to never give up.

At our school, being a Teaching Assistant is about so much more than supporting lessons. Its about building trust, celebrating small wins and helping young people discover what they are capable of.

You'll work alongside experienced teachers and a dedicated wider team, providing the encouragement, structure and individual support pupils need to engage in learning and thrive.

What You'll Be Doing

• Supporting pupils individually and in small groups to access learning
• Working closely with teachers to deliver engaging classroom activities
• Helping pupils develop confidence, independence and positive relationships
• Supporting emotional wellbeing and encouraging positive behaviours
• Creating a calm, inclusive and encouraging learning environment
• Taking part in activities across the wider school day
• Celebrating progress, however big or small

What We're Looking For

You don't need years of experience in education. We're looking for someone with the right attitude, resilience and passion to make a difference.

You could be an experienced Teaching Assistant, looking for a new challenge, or someone from another background who has the patience, empathy and enthusiasm to build meaningful relationships with young people.

• Compassionate and patient, with a calm approach
• Positive and resilient, even when things get challenging
• Creative and adaptable, able to think differently about how pupils learn
• A great team player, who enjoys learning from others
• Passionate about young people and committed to helping them succeed
• Driving licence required

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park School supports every child and young person to feel safe, be heard, discover their worth, develop their strengths and create a limitless future.

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.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a Great Place to Work for the sixth year running.

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
• 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.

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.

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: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm

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

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 08:30am-16:30pm

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.