Teaching Assistant (Stowmarket)

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!

Location: Wetheringsett Manor, Suffolk, IP14 5QX

Salary: £20,906.25 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday 08:15 to 15:45

Contract: Permanent, Term Time only

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

If you really want to make your mark in a rapidly growing business that is committed to improving the lives of pupils and young people, we have the role for you! We’re looking for Teaching Assistants to join our team at Wetheringsett Manor School. Someone who is motivated by helping others, patient and resilient would be perfect for this role.

Wetheringsett Manor also incorporates the 4-day working week for all staff after successfully passing probation. This means that staff work 80% of their time but get 100% of their salary, this is not a contractual change, but something designed to promote staff wellbeing.

About the role

As a Teaching Assistant, you will be responsible for safeguarding the pupils and making sure they are healthy, safe and as comfortable as possible. You will assist in their learning by offering companionship and support, whilst ensuring their physical, mental and emotional needs are met. You will be required to prepare learning materials under the supervision of the teachers and to participate in learning activities. The Teaching Assistant will also be required to liaise with parents and staff with regards to the wellbeing of the young people.

Who are we looking for?

As a dedicated Special Educational Needs school, we require a person who has a clear motivation for working with young people with complex needs. We do not necessarily require you to be experienced as full training and support will be provided. However, you will need to be compassionate, enthusiastic, reliable and resilient. The ideal candidate should work well within a team, be able to organise and plan a workload, communicate effectively and be prepared to work with varying types of difficulties.

Key responsibilities

• Provide a safe, caring and healthy environment where the pupils can thrive and develop their independence.
• Promote and celebrate diversity.
• Safeguard all pupils and support them with their individual and personal needs.
• Support and facilitate the learning of students.
• To follow school policy and procedures for recording and reporting.

About the School

Wetheringsett Manor School is a new independent day SEMH School for up to 100 pupils aged 7-18. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. Wetheringsett Manor School has gone through significant refurbishment and is based in Suffolk, East Anglia and opened to pupils in November 2020. The Manor House is located in 17 acres of parkland with wooded boundaries and sits on the edge of the village of Wetheringsett. The accommodation also provides several other buildings including a converted stable block, a cottage and two industrial units.

We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them both academically and socially to encourage them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students, so they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live.

Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education for vulnerable pupils and young people. 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 Acorn Education?

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 the 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.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.