Therapy Assistant – Brantridge School in Haywards Heath

Brantridge School is a specialist setting for boys aged 5 to 11 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Nestled in the Sussex Weald near Haywards Heath, the school is based in a beautifully adapted country manor house surrounded by expansive grounds, an ideal environment for learning and growth.

Our pupils benefit from a rich and engaging curriculum, including an exciting on-site outdoor learning programme. At Brantridge School, we take pride in offering a flexible, personalised approach that supports every child as an individual, helping them to thrive both academically and emotionally.

Dedicated and experienced staff work with families to ensure children make real progress at Brantridge School, and parental feedback is overwhelmingly positive on the child-centred approach and flexibility of the staff team.

Brantridge School is expanding its primary provision from September 2026 in partnership with West Sussex County Council. As part of this growth, we will be increasing the number of places available and introducing additional primary classes on our school site.

To support the continued development of our provision, we are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Therapy Assistant to join our team. This is a rewarding opportunity to work closely with pupils, therapists and school staff to support the wellbeing and development of our pupils.

• Support the therapy team in delivering therapeutic interventions and programmes for pupils.
• Work with individual pupils or small groups to support their social, emotional and communication development.
• Assist in implementing therapeutic strategies within the classroom and wider school environment.
• Work collaboratively with teachers and support staff to ensure therapeutic approaches are embedded in daily practice.
• Contribute to monitoring pupil progress and provide feedback to therapists and the wider staff team.

• Experience of working with children or young people, ideally within an education, therapy or care setting.
• An interest in supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with pupils and staff.
• Patience, empathy and resilience when supporting pupils with additional needs.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and follow guidance from therapists and school staff.

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.

Brantridge School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.

Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.

To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form. Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.

To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.

Closing Date: 14/04/2026

Interviews will take place on: W/C 20/04/2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.