Teaching Assistant - Yewstock School

Dorset Council; Sturminster Newton; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Part time

Job summary

Yewstock School is seeking a caring Teaching Assistant to join a dedicated team supporting pupils with complex needs, including SLD/PMLD and ASD. The role focuses on learning, personal development and fostering emotional wellbeing in a therapeutic setting.

The post involves a 32.5-hour week during term time (39 weeks per year) with a commitment to staff training and safeguarding. A calm, proactive approach is valued.

Qualifications

• Support pupils with complex needs including SLD/PMLD and ASD.
• Full induction and training will be provided.
• Role may include personal/intimate care.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with staff and pupils.
• Engage pupils in learning and support social and emotional wellbeing.
• Provide personal/intimate care if required.

Skills

Open-minded

Reflective

Willing to learn

Initiative & quick thinking

Relational therapy interest

Job description

Teaching Assistant

32.5 hours per week

We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and dependable Teaching Assistant to join our friendly and dedicated team. In this rewarding role, you will support pupils with a range of complex needs, including SLD/PMLD and ASD, helping them to thrive both in their learning and personal development.

Previous experience in a similar role would be beneficial, but full induction and training will be provided. We are looking for someone who understands the important role of a Teaching Assistant within a special school setting and who can bring a calm, therapeutic and positive approach to supporting pupils.

The successful candidate will be able to build strong relationships with staff and pupils, engage them in learning, and support their social, emotional and personal wellbeing. Please note that the role may include providing personal/intimate care.

The position is for 32.5 hours per week, term time only (39 weeks per year), and includes weekly staff training on Thursdays until 4.45pm.

Further Information

Yewstock is a specialist school for pupils aged 4–19 with complex learning difficulties. We’re proud of our caring, inclusive community where everyone is valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

We are more than a school — we are a community where relationships matter and everyone belongs.

Our teaching assistants are the heartbeat of Yewstock. They bring energy, creativity, humour and care to everything they do. No two days are the same, but every day brings purpose, connection and real moments of joy.

We take a therapeutic, relational approach. We understand that behaviour is communication. When things are challenging, we stay curious and try to understand what’s behind it. We prioritise connection, trust and emotional safety — even when it looks different from more traditional approaches.

We’re Looking For People Who Are

• Open-minded
• Reflective
• Willing to learn
• Able to use their initiative and think on their feet

An interest in therapeutic and relational practice is important.

Experience is helpful, but finding the right person matters most. If you’re compassionate, committed and keen to learn, we will support you with a strong training programme.

Our Values Are Simple And Guide Everything We Do

• Treat everyone with respect
• Enjoy learning together
• Show kindness and care

Consistency is vital for our pupils, so we’re looking for people who are reliable, punctual and committed.

Yewstock School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

We are 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 and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

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

Yewstock School 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 will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

About Us

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