Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant in a new SEN provision

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Contract Type: Permanent, full-time

Hours: 40 hours per week

Actual annual salary: £22,906 - £23,621 dependent on experience

Hourly rate: £12.82 - £13.22 per hour 

Start Date: As soon as possible

Aurora Vincent House School

As part of our growth strategy, we are really pleased to have opened a brand new SEND Secondary School in the heart of Horsham, West Sussex for autistic young people aged 11-16. We are a happy school that values kindness and understanding where everyone feels safe. Most of our students are coming to us from mainstream education to have access to an adapted National Curriculum delivered in small classes with a focus on meeting their sensory needs and support for their emotional wellbeing. Just over half of our students are girls.

The Role:

This is an excellent career opportunity for someone who wishes to have significant training opportunities and to collaborate closely with in-house therapists and clinicians. It requires a focus on establishing strong relationships with students, prioritising their wellbeing above all else. Our Teaching Assistants are integral to the support we offer and are involved in every aspect of school life for each student. Our school works on a model of integrated therapy which means you also deliver strategies and interventions given by the clinical team with support from the SENCO. You will support the learning proactively in class and help personalise each young person’s learning. Additionally you will be involved in giving regular feedback to parents and other professionals.

Our students will have access to an enrichment curriculum that will include a range of outdoor activities, sports including swimming, visits, and community projects. We welcome applicants who are also enthusiastic to support these activities as well as class-based learning.

Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of Vincent House School when required.Please see the link below for our full job description:

Job Description - Teaching Assistant 

Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate:  

• A strong interest in therapy
• A qualification or genuine interest in psychology
• Either effective experience working with young people especially those with SEND OR clear potential to learn quickly
• They have successfully supported neurodivergent people
• Resourcefulness, resilience and a growth mindset
• A good level of education.

Candidates must:

• have a good level of written and verbal English and general education as well as IT skills in order to support our students’ learning.
• have the empathy and resilience to work with young people some of whom may experience high anxiety and may exhibit self-harming behaviours, ARFID and disordered eating, and a range of mental health difficulties.
• be committed to becoming a neuro-informed and a neuro-affirmative practitioner. That requires continuous engagement in learning and a genuine belief in a neuro-affirmative approach.
• be outstanding in their pastoral and safeguarding practice

We offer:

• Small classes with the opportunity to establish strong relationships with all students.
• The time, support and training for you to prioritise safeguarding, pastoral care and the overall wellbeing of all students.
• The chance to work with, and learn from, an onsite clinical team including a Clinical Psychologist, OT and SaLT. There are also opportunities to be involved in research that will support our students and the wider neurodivergent community both in terms of education and mental health.
• A rare opportunity to be part of a team creating a new school and culture that will change the lives of many young people and their families within the community.
• It is an exciting time to be part of Aurora and this is a unique career opportunity to make your mark on our growing services.

The expectation for this role is high but so are the rewards! If you are interested, we strongly recommend you contact us to arrange an informal talk or tour of the school with the Headteacher who can explain in full the role on offer. Our priority is appointing a person with the right mindset, potential and pastoral approach.

You will also benefit from a generous package that includes:

• Life assurance
• Enhanced Pension
• Perkbox - offering high street discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Car lease scheme
• Fully funded training and qualifications
• Bike to work scheme
• Free membership to our Health cash back plan - Claim back money on services such as dental, optical, physio and many more.

How to Apply: 

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details.  If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer. 

This advert could be paused or taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled or we receive a sufficient number of applications.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.