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Job Title:  Teaching Assistant
Location:  Higford School, Near Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9ET
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am - 4pm
Salary:      £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time
Start:        November 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Higford School, we know that progress looks different for every pupil. Sometimes it is engaging with a lesson, developing a new skill, communicating a need, building a friendship or becoming a little more independent.

We are looking for a caring and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join our supportive team and help pupils with Autism and additional needs make meaningful progress both in and beyond the classroom.

You will build positive relationships with pupils, understand how they learn best and provide the encouragement, structure and individual support they need to participate in school life. Working alongside teachers and other professionals, you will help create learning experiences that build confidence, independence and important skills for the future.

What you’ll do:

• Support pupils with Autism and additional needs with their learning, wellbeing and personal development
• Help deliver engaging classroom activities and personalised learning experiences based around individual needs
• Provide consistent emotional and practical support, helping pupils feel safe, understood and ready to learn
• Encourage pupils to develop confidence, independence, communication and social skills
• Support learning both inside and outside the classroom, making the most of different activities and experiences
• Build positive and trusting relationships with pupils while maintaining clear and consistent expectations
• Work closely with teachers and other professionals to provide joined up support for each pupil
• Help create a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where pupils are encouraged to recognise what they can achieve

Who we’re looking for:

We are looking for someone who understands that successful support starts with patience, consistency and positive relationships.

You will need:

• Experience within an education, childcare or SEN setting
• The ability to remain calm, patient and positive when supporting pupils with complex needs
• A caring and encouraging approach, with the confidence to support pupils through challenges
• The ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative and multidisciplinary team
• Good communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships
• A genuine commitment to helping young people develop their confidence and independence
• A full driving licence

About Us

Options Higford is a specialist school set in 28 acres of beautiful Shropshire countryside. We provide a high quality, holistic education for up to 60 autistic students who also have associated behavioural needs. Class groups have five students in with at least 1:1 staffing. We provide personalised curriculums for each student based on their individual needs and aim to support them to make progress academically, socially, with skills for life, regulating their emotions and accessing the community.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts
  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
  • Critical illness cover
  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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