Teaching Assistants (SEND)

Ackworth School; Wakefield; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Ackworth School seeks enthusiastic, qualified individuals to join a diverse team supporting students with autism in the Autism Resource. Applicants will deliver an individualised curriculum and provide essential one-to-one support, contributing to a holistic education within a Quaker ethos. Opportunities include a competitive salary, fee remission for staff children, and a supportive working environment.

Benefits

Generous fee remission for staff children

Food and refreshments during the working day

Free on-site parking

Flexible pension and health benefits

Supportive Quaker ethos environment

Beautiful working location

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with autism or related conditions.
• Specialist knowledge of autism spectrum conditions.
• Understanding of how autism impacts learning.

Responsibilities

• Deliver an individualised curriculum for pupils on the autistic spectrum.
• Provide one-to-one support to meet social, emotional, and learning needs.
• Create a nurturing and therapeutic environment.

Skills

Empathy

Support for learning

Communication

Education

NVQ Level 3 or diploma level

Job description

To provide an exceptional, holistic and inclusive Quaker education, nurturing young people to flourish and therefore play their part in creating a better world.

The Autism Resource, part of Ackworth School, an all through day and boarding school from 2-18, is a purpose developed specialist provision, within the mainstream school. From September 2025 we will expand further from 24 pupils to around 37. Pupils are generally between the ages of 11-20 and places are always in high demand due to the success of the provision that we offer together with the benefits of the inclusive nature and not to mention the facilities of a mainstream setting.

As a Quaker school, it maintains its ethos and traditions, and is still governed by the Society, although only a small number of pupils are from the Quaker tradition. The school is academically non-selective and provides an excellent range of facilities and extra-curricular opportunities. Our pupils are one of Ackworth's USP's. Visitors to the school never fail to acknowledge how amazing they are and how positive the encounter is.

An opportunity has arisen for suitably qualified, enthusiastic and empathetic individuals to join a diverse team supporting pupils on the autistic spectrum. Applicants must be qualified to at least NVQ level 3 or diploma level and have previous experience supporting learning for pupils with a diagnosis of autism or a related condition, who require one to one support. Autism Resource is very much part of our Quaker ethos.

You will help to deliver an individualised curriculum as well as providing a nurturing and therapeutic environment to meet a range of needs including social, emotional, communication and learning difficulties.

The successful candidate must have experience of working with children and young people with a range of learning needs. You will have a specialist level of knowledge and experience of the areas of difference experienced by people with autism spectrum conditions and be able to demonstrate a working understanding of how these needs impact upon learning.

In return we offer:

• a competitive salary (based on 34 teaching weeks) and generous fee remission of up to 50% for the children of our staff.
• all food and refreshments during the working day.
• free on-site parking.
• flexible pension and health benefits.
• a supportive and friendly environment based on the Quaker ethos of the school.
• a committed parent community which plays an active part in the school.
• a beautiful working location in an ideal location within easy travelling distance of the main centres of Sheffield, Leeds, Doncaster and York.

The working hours are 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday, term time only (34 weeks). The starting salary for the role is £19,111.95 (FTE £25,096.50).

Please visit the school's website for a full job description.

We will only accept applications that are submitted on an application form. We cannot accept CVs. Forms are downloadable from the school’s website.

Closing Date: Monday 9th June 2025.

Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 16th June 2025.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THE ADVERT EARLY AND BRING THE INTERVIEW DATE FORWARD/PUSH BACK.

For an informal and confidential discussion, please contact our HR department on 01977 233600.

Applicants should read carefully the Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and our Recruitment Process. Our recruitment privacy notice is also available on our website within “Working For Us”.

Ackworth School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all applicants will undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS and Barred list check with Disclosure and Barring Service. Applicants should also be in sympathy with the School’s Quaker ethos.