Teaching & Learning Support Assistant - Forest Oak School

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; Metropolitan Borough of Solihull; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff wellbeing initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Job summary

Forest Oak School in Solihull is seeking two Band C Teaching Assistants for maternity cover. The roles are 32.5 hours per week, term time only (39 weeks), 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Monday, and 8:30 a.m.

to 3:20 p.m. Tue–Fri, plus two parent evenings each year. Start date is 22 February 2027. Working under the Senior Leadership Team, you will support delivery of learning, teaching and assessment to raise standards for all learners, including those with additional needs.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or other relevant childcare qualification.
• Experience working with learners, preferably with additional needs.
• Ability to interact well with learners and teachers in a culture of mutual trust and respect.
• IT literate and IT confident.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of learning, teaching and assessment under supervision of teaching staff.
• Collaborate with teaching colleagues to raise standards of achievement.
• Provide pastoral support and be a first point of contact for parents as required.

Job description

Band C – maternity cover – two positions

Start Date: 22 February 2027

Hours: 32.5 hours per week, term time only (39 weeks), 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, plus two parent evenings each year

Forest Oak School Mission Statement: Working Together, Releasing Potential

Forest Oak school caters for pupils aged 4 to 18 years with moderate learning difficulties. Ofsted say we are an outstanding school (latest Ofsted 2024).

Forest Oak is seeking two highly motivated and enthusiastic people to join our team as a Band C Teaching Assistants. Working under the instruction of the Senior Leadership Team, you will collaborate with teaching colleagues to support the delivery of quality learning, teaching and assessment to help raise standards of achievement for all learners.

To be considered for this post you must hold an NVQ Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or other relevant childcare qualification, and have experience in working with learners preferably those with additional needs. You must be an individual who has the skills and passion to positively impact on our learners. You must also possess the commitment, enthusiasm and energy to inspire them every day. You must show your ability to interact well with learners and teachers alike in a culture built on the values of mutual trust and respect.

Our Teaching Assistant roles are different from other settings. We require our Teaching Assistants to have not only the academic ability to support our pupils but also, the passion, enthusiasm and determination to engage our pupils in their learning. We expect true partnerships with parents and the confidence to facilitate these independently; you need to be able to work at pace in a fast-paced environment producing consistently high quality work. Your pastoral work will be excellent and you will be confident being one of the first points of contact for parents in need of support. Optimism and consistency will be your core performance virtues. You will be both IT literate and IT confident. You will be assured in challenging colleagues to undertake their best endeavours for all learners, recognising excellence and challenging when standards of excellence are yet to be met. At interview we will explore your ability to develop rapport with learners.

It would be advantageous if candidates could demonstrate the following:

• Experience of supporting learners with speech, language and communication needs.
• Experience of working with learners with cognition and learning needs thereby able to collaborate with teachers to differentiate / scaffold learning tasks and activities for learners working significantly below age related expectations.
• Must be prepared to train for, or be experienced in delivering, intimate care plans.
• An understanding of learner’s sensory differences
• Experience of helping learners to understand and regulate their emotional responses and develop a greater sense of self-awareness, independence and resilience
• Working knowledge of a range of interventions and approaches to enhance literacy and numeracy development
• Partnership with parents

Why join Forest Oak School?

• A welcoming, supportive, and inclusive working environment.
• Commitment to your professional development with high quality continuous professional development opportunities.
• Access to staff wellbeing initiatives and a wide range of employee benefits.
• The chance to make a meaning impact on the lives of young people.
• Where staff are passionate about enabling all pupils to achieve beyond expectation.
• Where together we make a creative, dynamic team, proud to overcome challenges and celebrate each individual’s achievements
• Work on a campus with two other schools, in a very well resourced building

The closing date for applications is 8 November 2026.

Interview date: 17 November 2026

We warmly welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and communities. Solihull Council is proud to be an equal opportunities employer, committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to thrive. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all colleagues to share this commitment. All appointments will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, including a Children’s Barred List check, and online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates. Our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is available to view here: https://www.forest-oak.solihull.sch.uk/page/?title=Policies&pid=35

Attached documents
Job Description & Person Specification
Standard Job Application Form DBS SCHOOLS v5.1 March 2023.doc
Notes of Guidance for Applicants re DBS (Schools).doc
Recruitment Monitoring Form v1.doc