Teaching Assistant (Compass Plus)

Dorset Council; Weymouth; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Dorset Council seeks an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join Compass Plus, based in the outskirts of Dorchester. The role is 30 hours per week, term-time including INSET days, with a fixed term until 31 August 2027 and potential progression to Senior Teaching Assistant.

The post supports students with complex needs in a Summer/Outreach setting, working with staff and instructors to provide bespoke learning experiences in a calm, supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4/C or above, including English and Mathematics
• Experience or interest in outdoor education or education outside the traditional classroom environment
• Promote the inclusion of all students
• Contribute to safeguarding and protection of all students

Responsibilities

• Work alongside teachers and other education professionals to support groups of children and individuals
• Assist with planning and delivery under teachers' direction
• Encourage engagement and positive behaviour in a busy learning environment
• Support students to achieve personalised learning goals

Skills

GCSEs including English and Maths

Job description

About the role

Teaching Assistant (Compass Plus)

Fixed Term in the first instance until 31 August 2027

Hours: 30 hours per week, worked over 5 days.

Paid Weeks: Term Time including INSET Day (45.05 paid weeks)

Salary Scale: Grade 5 - 6, points 5 – 9 depending on experience. Actual salary range £18,513 - £19,722 pro rated per annum (£26,427 - £28,153 PA FTE)

Compass Learning Centre is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and energetic Teaching Assistant starting as soon as possible, joining our team to work predominantly within our exciting off site provision, Compass Plus. This project is based in premises on the outskirts of Dorchester, working alongside existing Compass staff and specialist instructors.

Compass Plus caters for students with a range of educational needs who are Key Stage 4, Years 10 or 11. Hours of work are 30 hours per week (9.00am – 3.00pm daily) over 5 days, term time including INSET days. This post is fixed term until 31 August 2027 in the first instance with the potential to become permanent.

The salary range for this post is Dorset Council Grades 5 - 6 dependent on experience, and we can offer a progression route through to Senior Teaching Assistant at Grade 7 for the right candidate.

This post would suit someone who enjoys working outdoors, has a passion for working with young people, either in a professional or volunteer role and who would like to make a difference to lives of young people with complex needs and challenging behaviour. Whether you are looking to gain experience during a gap year before going on to higher education, looking for a role during the school day which could fit around a family, or an opportunity to build on existing skills or experience, this could be the perfect job for you.

This position is challenging but rewarding and will require you to work both alongside teachers and other education professionals, as well as independently under teachers' direction, supporting the work of groups of children and individuals. Duties are varied, depending on the needs of the students concerned.

The successful candidate will:

• Have achieved a minimum of5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4 / C or above, including English and Mathematics
• Ideally have experience working with young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours and experience or interest in working in outdoor education or education out of the traditional classroom environment
• Promote the inclusion of all students
• Contribute to the safeguarding and protection of all students

The young people we educate have struggled to maintain a place in mainstream school and come to us with a variety of additional needs. Our challenge is to help them build the confidence, knowledge and skills to unlock their potential. This role will suit someone who is caring, understanding and can demonstrate energy and enthusiasm with a strong positive behaviour management ethos. Class sizes are small and all of our students need bespoke individualised learning.

If you are a good team player, who is motivated, patient, resilient, understanding and have the ability to establish a rapport with young people in a busy and lively setting, this may be the job for you. You will be joining an outstanding, hardworking and friendly team of staff.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Midnight on Sunday 11 October 2026.

Further Information

Compass Learning Centre will conduct a number of online searches of shortlisted candidates. Part of which will be a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Compass Learning Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure & Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines. We value the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

Compass Learning Centre values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.

The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Compass Learning Centre will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who is not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Compass Learning Centre will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who is not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.