Teaching Assistant

Are you a dedicated and compassionate educator with a passion for working with secondary-aged students with special educational needs? We are seeking skilled Teaching Assistants to join our staff both on our main site and at our satellite provision, across our learning zones. This is a rewarding opportunity to inspire and support young people in a school environment that values inclusion, collaboration, and holistic development.

Mapledown School is a secondary special school for students with Severe and Profound or Complex learning difficulties and Autism. Our ethos and vision are to provide a learning environment for all members of the school community, where everyone can work and learn together. We aim to ensure our wonderful and inspiring students are given the dignity of challenge, and opportunities to be heard, become as independent as possible and achieve their very best. All young people have the right to have their individual needs met, and therefore Mapledown staff provide learners with a personalised curriculum which is focused on the successful acquisition of knowledge and skills which will have a positive impact on their lives and opportunities.

Our staff are dedicated to providing a supportive, inclusive, and stimulating learning environment for secondary-aged students with special educational needs. The school is a place where every student is valued, nurtured, and challenged to achieve their best academically, socially, and personally. We are opening a new site in September in Whetstone, and the successful candidates may be based there or on our main site. Successful candidates will be part of a supportive team.

If you are passionate about making a difference and want to work in a supportive, enthusiastic, and hard-working environment, we would love to hear from you!

What We’re Looking For:

• Energetic, enthusiastic and inspiring Teaching Assistants to work with our amazing pupils who have severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and Autism.
• Previous experience within special needs provisions would be an advantage.
• Able to work 31.5 hours per week, 39 weeks of the year. 9.00am to 3.30pm, except each Wednesday when all staff work until 5pm for training and meetings time.

Applicants should have:

• Good standards of English and Maths (GCSE or equivalent).
• A degree is desirable but we would consider applications from experienced practitioners.
• A desire for working with students with complex learning difficulties.
• Previous experience is desirable although consideration will be given to applicants with relevant skills.
• Good communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for supporting children and their learning.
• The ability to work well on your own and as part of a team.
• A positive attitude and sense of humour.
• A willingness to learn new skills.
• A willingness to undertake personal care of pupils.
• The successful applicant must have a high standard of written and spoken English.
• A positive attitude with emotional resilience.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• A reflective approach to ongoing professional development.
• Willingness to have training to drive the school minibus is especially welcome.

We will offer you:

• A new starter induction programme - training and induction will include, depending on where you will be deployed, epilepsy and allergy management, enteral feeding, First Aid, PODD, MOVE, Manual Handling and Team Teach.
• A varied and ongoing professional development programme (CPD).
• Annual appraisal programme.

Mapledown School is a Good School (Ofsted, November 2023), catering for the needs of children and young people with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties. A significant number of our pupils have a diagnosis of Autism. Mapledown is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to satisfactory clearance of enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, including the barred lists, as well as all other pre-appointment checks in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025). Please do not send CVs as only completed application forms will be considered.