Teaching Assistants - Springwood Campus

Linwood School; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A multi-campus special school in Bournemouth is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to support students with autism. Responsibilities include providing one-on-one support, ensuring a nurturing environment, and assisting with personal care tasks. Applicants should have a strong ability to communicate and a resilient attitude towards challenges. Experience with children with autism is beneficial, but not required. The role offers a supportive working environment and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

BCP Council benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Paid after-school training

Career development opportunities

Long Service Awards

Qualifications

• Experience with children and young people with autism is desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively using various tools.
• Resilience to handle challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one support to students for academic and social progress.
• Create a structured and supportive learning environment.
• Assist students in staying on task and managing emotional needs.
• Deliver personal care and medical treatment as per individual care plans.

Skills

Communication skills

Resilience

Engagement techniques

Job description

Overview

Springwood Campus, West Howe, is part of Linwood School, an ‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted January 2025) multi-campus day special school for children and young people aged 4‑19. Springwood Campus is an autism specific day provision; all students have a diagnosis of autism and complex needs, as well as moderate to severe learning difficulties. We are committed to empowering each child to thrive academically, socially and emotionally within a safe and supportive educational setting.

Key Details

BCP Salary Band 5 – appointments will be made at the starting point of the salary range. The salary shown is pro‑rated based on a 30‑hour working week from the full‑time equivalent. 30 hours per week (8:45 a.m.‑3:30 p.m.), 39 weeks per year (term time only + inset days). Consideration will be given to lesser hours per week but we ask that applicants commit to a minimum 2 full days (12 hours). It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Responsibilities

• Provide one‑on‑one and small group support to students to facilitate their academic and social progress under the direction of the class Teacher.
• Create a structured and nurturing environment that promotes student engagement.
• Assist and encourage students to remain on task; offer emotional support utilising positive behaviour reinforcement techniques via a trauma‑informed approach.
• Provide personal care for pupils and appropriate medical treatment following individual care plans, ensuring that students records are kept up to date and in line with current guidance, under the direction of the class Teacher.

Please refer to the job description attached for a complete list of responsibilities.

Qualifications

Previous experience of working with children and young people with autism is desirable but not essential. Resilience is a key personal quality for the role as is the ability to communicate effectively using a range of tools.

Benefits

• BCP Council benefits
• An Employee Assistance Programme to support staff wellbeing
• Paid after‑school training sessions to support staff development
• Career development opportunities leading to Specialist Provision Teaching Assistant and Higher Level Teaching Assistant status; some Teaching Assistants progress to Teacher
• Long Service Awards

Commitment to Diversity

At Linwood School, we take pride in being an equal opportunities employer that champions a diverse workforce. We actively seek and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, recognising that a rich tapestry of experiences enhances our ability to support our diverse student population. Our commitment to diversity not only fosters a sense of belonging but also strengthens the learning environment for everyone involved.

Safeguarding Commitment

Linwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and an overseas criminal record check if they have lived or worked outside the UK in the past 10 years. Employment offers are also subject to satisfactory references, health assessments and right‑to‑work checks. All Linwood School staff are expected to adhere to our policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding and child protection, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Guidance for adults working with children and young people in an education setting. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and its amendments; if the role is exempt, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed.