Teaching Assistant

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we’ll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join #teamOFG!

Job title: Teaching Assistant

Location: Maple Grove School, Chester, CH2 3HR

Salary: £20,906.25 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm

Contract: Permanent, Term Time only

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our close-knit team at Maple Grove School, part of Options Autism

About the role

The Teaching Assistant will work specifically with individual pupils who are placed at the school, requiring 1:1 staff support. They may experience multiple social, emotional and learning challenges, related behaviours ranges from speech and sound disorder, disordered expressive language skills, delayed understanding of language, concentration and attention difficulties, challenging behaviour and work avoidance behaviours. This role is predominantly education based but will also have a wider remit including supporting families, carers and the wider community. This role will also involve close working partnerships with all relevant agencies that support the young person including Social Workers, Speech and Language Therapy Service, Social Communication Disorder Assessment Service, Early Intervention Team and an Educational Psychologist. Work may sometimes be undertaken outside the main teaching area. To share the school’s responsibility to support and promote the learning, personal development and well-being of all pupils.

Key Result Areas

To work under direct supervision/instruction to support access to learning by:

• Attending to the welfare and learning needs of pupils;
• Working with and leading small groups or one to one;
• Undertaking general clerical/organisational support for the teacher.

General Responsibilities

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and young people;
• Work in accordance with professional practice, statutory and legal requirements and the policies of The Wenlock School;
• Take on specific tasks related to the day to day administration and organisation of the school;
• Take responsibility for specific areas of work which will be reviewed annually then negotiated and agreed within the performance management cycle and school improvement process;
• Take on any additional responsibilities which might from time to time be determined.

About us

Maple Grove is a specialist setting for learners with autism. At Maple Grove, everything we do revolves around the individual needs of each pupil attending our school, with the aim that every learner is able to fulfil their potential.

Along with our rich and varied curriculum, we focus on developing core life skills such as communication and social ability, sensory processing, and emotional regulation; every pupil develops the essential capabilities they need to be as independent as possible when they leave school.

We are situated in Hoole, Chester, with the school set within a beautiful, historic building that has been completely refurbished and redesigned to the highest standard.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to 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.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy.

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