Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant - Southern Cross School

1. Start Date: Subject to the completion of pre-employment checks
2. Salary: Grade 5 point 12 - 19 - Starting at actual salary of £25,410
3. Term Time Only plus 5 Days
4. 35 hours per week
5. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, offering generous employer contributions
6. On-site parking
7. Employee Assistance Programme and additional wellbeing benefits
8. Access to high-quality professional development and specialist SEND training
9. The opportunity to work within a growing therapeutic special school with excellent facilities and a supportive staff team

Are you passionate about helping young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential?

We are seeking a dedicated, resilient and caring Teaching Assistant (Level 2) to join our growing team at Southern Cross School. Working alongside teachers, therapists and other professionals, you will support pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs to access learning, develop confidence, build positive relationships and achieve success both in and beyond the classroom.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a specialist school that places therapeutic practice at the heart of everything we do. You will work directly with pupils in class and through targeted interventions, helping to create a safe, nurturing and engaging environment where every young person can thrive.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who:

1. Enjoys working with children and young people.
2. Can build positive and trusting relationships.
3. Is patient, resilient and adaptable.
4. Has strong communication and teamwork skills.
5. Is committed to inclusion, safeguarding and improving outcomes for vulnerable learners.
6. Has experience of supporting children and young people, ideally within an educational, care or specialist setting.

Previous experience of working with pupils with SEND and/or SEMH needs would be advantageous, but most importantly we are looking for individuals who share our values and are committed to making a difference.

Southern Cross School

Southern Cross School is a Special School for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. We have recently expanded our provision and now have a brand-new building which has been designed to deliver our therapeutic vision.

Our vision is to create a therapeutic, harmonious environment which promotes feelings of safety and security, allowing our pupils to explore, enjoy learning and reach their full potential. Building a sense of community around the child, we aim to become a leading therapeutic provision that is high quality and expert in recognising and meeting the needs of all pupils through outstanding teaching and engaging learning.

We achieve positive outcomes for all our pupils, including emotional wellbeing and self-belief, creating successful, happy and healthy individuals. We develop the skills that enable our pupils to sustain employment and build security in their lives.

To find out more about our school, visit: https://southerncross-ebsd.co.uk/

We look forward to receiving your application and potentially discussing the role with you in the near future.

Safeguarding Statement

Southern Cross School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to robust safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, online and social media checks, verification of qualifications, identity checks, and any other pre-employment checks considered relevant to the role.

As an organisation working with children and young people, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore reserve the right to seek information about applicants' criminal history and consider this information when making recruitment decisions, in line with current legislation and safeguarding guidance.

All staff are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding, maintain professional boundaries and actively contribute to creating a safe environment for all pupils.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Southern Cross School is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We believe that diversity enriches our school community and strengthens our ability to support and inspire young people.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups that are currently underrepresented within the education workforce, including people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of all ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with different lived experiences.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, fostering positive relationships and ensuring that all staff, pupils and visitors feel valued, respected and able to achieve their full potential. Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the recruitment process and employment to support applicants and employees with disabilities.