Teaching Assistant - Littlewood Campus, Oakdale in Poole

Littlewood Campus is part of Linwood School, an ‘Outstanding’ (Ofsted January 2025) multi-campus, day special school for children and young people aged 4-19. Littlewood Campus, situated in a self-contained wing of Oakdale Junior School in Poole, is our Early Years Provision for students between 3 and 8 years old, and supports students with a range of special educational needs as well as those on the autism spectrum.

We are now seeking to appoint highly motivated, committed Teaching Assistants to join our expanding team on a permanent basis. Due to the special educational needs of our students, this role can be challenging and sometimes physically demanding; however, the work is also very rewarding. Resilience is a key personal quality for the role, as is the ability to communicate effectively using a range of tools. Previous experience of working with children and young people with learning difficulties and/or social communication difficulties is desirable but not essential.

• A passion for promoting the wellbeing and development of young children.
• The ability to follow each individual young person’s care and medical plans, which may include supporting children with epilepsy and manual handling.
• Competence in administering medication in accordance with school policy, including via specialist techniques following appropriate training.
• Experience or awareness in assisting with intimate and personal care, including personal and/or feminine hygiene and bathing, ensuring that the highest standards are maintained.
• Support in eating and drinking in line with individual care plans.
• A commitment to enable and encourage children to achieve as high a level of independence as possible.
• Under the direction of the class teacher, the capacity to support students in engaging in activities to their full potential, using appropriate total communication techniques.
• A basic understanding of the Early Years Framework Development Matters, along with knowledge of how to support a young child’s learning and development.

The role is subject to a 6-month mandatory probation during which there is an expectation that Teaching Assistants attend Monday after school training sessions to enhance their work in school and their skill levels. A list of training dates and topics is provided upon commencement.

For further information about our school and the different needs of our students, please refer to our website where you will find information about each of our campuses: www.linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk

Linwood School offers career progression opportunities for Teaching Assistants wishing to enhance their skills further in an education setting, leading to Specialist Provision Teaching Assistant followed by Higher Level Teaching Assistant status. Some of our Teaching Assistants have progressed to a Teacher.

• An Employee Assistance Programme to support staff wellbeing.
• After-school training sessions to support staff development.
• Career development.
• Long Service Awards.

At Linwood School, we take pride in being an equal opportunities employer that champions a diverse workforce. We actively seek and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, recognising that a rich tapestry of experiences enhances our ability to support our diverse student population. Our commitment to diversity not only fosters a sense of belonging but also strengthens the learning environment for everyone involved.

Linwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Successful applicants will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and an overseas criminal record check if they have lived or worked outside the UK in the past 10 years. Employment offers are also subject to satisfactory references, health assessments, and right-to-work checks. All Linwood School staff are expected to adhere to our policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding and child protection, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Guidance for adults working with children and young people in an education setting. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and its amendments. If the role is exempt, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed.

For any enquiries regarding your application please contact the HR Department on 01202 636811 or email recruitment@linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk