Teaching Assistant 12MFT

Advert End Date: 10/04/26
Interview Date: W/C 13/04/26

Please be advised that if a suitable candidate is appointed prior to the closing date, we reserve the right to close this vacancy.

Are you a Life Changer? Do you wish to engage and make a significant impact in a child's life?

Compass Community prioritizes children through our therapeutic and innovative methodologies. Our core values of Integrity, Courage, and Care define our operations. We actively listen, challenge one another, and collaboratively address challenges that arise.

This is our mission. We invite you to join us.

Vicarage Park is a forward-thinking school situated in Stottesdon, a quaint village near Kidderminster. As a small special school, we offer tailored education to a maximum of 12 pupils aged 8-18 facing severe complexities, primarily learning disabilities, alongside associated health or physical disabilities and additional challenging behaviours.

Our students hail from diverse backgrounds, all possessing Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs (SEMH). A significant number also experience other Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including Autism, ADHD, and communication challenges.

The nature of our work is both diverse and demanding. As a trauma and attachment-informed organization, we ensure all staff receive comprehensive therapeutic training and support.

Our collaborative approach places the child at the forefront of decision-making, allowing education and therapy professionals, parents/carers, local authority teams, and, most importantly, our students to work in harmony to achieve exceptional outcomes.

The Role

Teaching Assistants at our school understand that each day is unique, and each child is different. Our students require exceptional adults who can navigate complex and challenging behaviours.

TAs in our school recognize that our children need significant attention, tailored communication, consistency, and flexibility, all delivered with a non-judgmental attitude. They must be resilient, persistent, and solution-oriented to effectively support our pupils, often needing to adapt to varying circumstances.

Our Teaching Assistants will:
- Assist in teaching and learning
- Work one-on-one with children or facilitate small group sessions
- Manage classroom resources
- Accompany children on educational outings
- Share lunch with children who face social challenges
- Possess a solid foundational understanding of English and Maths
- Ensure the safety of children during heightened emotional states, utilizing strong behaviour management skills and effective communication
- Design and facilitate games to enhance social skills or further educational engagement
- Create vibrant displays that enhance teaching and foster an outstanding learning environment
- Celebrate achievements
- Engage in therapeutic training sessions and reflect on challenging experiences

Our Teaching Assistants are vital members of our team. We encourage their involvement in decision-making processes that influence our school and outcomes for children, as well as their advocacy for every child. We value their contributions towards shaping both the academic curriculum and the extracurricular activities, allowing them to bring their personal interests and passions into play.

Benefits and Rewards
- Opportunities for career development and progression within Compass Community
- Competitive salary
- Comprehensive training and professional qualification opportunities
- Small class sizes with specialist TA support
- The chance to be part of a growing national organization that values skill, effort, and potential, fostering its own leadership teams
- Flexible pension options
- Regular therapeutic and supportive supervision
- Employee benefit services that include access to wellbeing services and salary sacrifice schemes

We review applications continuously and reserve the right to close the advertisement early if we identify suitable candidates.

Safeguarding

Compass Community Schools is deeply committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, expecting all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff must hold or be willing to obtain an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services (formerly the Criminal Records Bureau) and undergo due diligence checks regarding social media use.

All school-based staff are responsible for promoting the safeguarding and welfare of children. Staff should be familiar with the school’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy and adhere to it consistently.

Compass is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As we continue to expand, we recognize the necessity of employing the most talented individuals with varied backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, and experiences to best support our children and young people.