Most teaching assistant roles feel like crowd control in overcrowded classrooms where individual kids get lost. This is different: you'll work in a small specialist school of just 12 pupils where your one-to-one attention genuinely transforms how young people with autism and learning difficulties see themselves and their future. If you've got the energy to really know each child and help them thrive, this role is calling you
Picture a school day where you're not managing 30 faces but truly connecting with 12 young people aged 11 to 19, most of them with autism or complex learning needs. You'll sit alongside pupils who struggle with reading, numeracy, handwriting and speech, and you'll watch the exact moment something clicks for them. That's the daily win here. Your reassurance and one-to-one help aren't background noise; they're the whole point
The home operates as a family-like children's home with its own integrated school, which means the staff around you understand behaviour, regulation and safeguarding at depth. You're not isolated in a classroom; you're part of a team that knows these young people's whole lives. The curriculum is built around each child's learning needs, their interests and their sensory or regulation strategies, so every session feels purposeful, never generic
This is a permanent, term-time only contract in Halifax, so your summers are genuinely yours. You'll earn £23,996 to £29,957 depending on experience, with real progression opportunities, funded training and career development built into working here. The team invests in people who want to grow
What you will be doing
- Provide individualised attention, reassurance and hands-on help with learning tasks tailored to each pupil's needs
- Support development in speech and language, reading, spelling, numeracy and handwriting, adapting activities on the fly based on what's working
- Observe pupils systematically, gathering evidence of their learning and feeding back to teachers so they can track real progress
- Promote inclusion and help young people interact with each other appropriately, modelling the behaviour and relationships you want to see
- Know and apply school policies on safeguarding, behaviour, health and safety, ensuring the learning environment stays secure for everyone
Why you will love working here
- Term-time only contract, so genuine work-life balance and real holidays with your family
- Salary of £23,996 to £29,957 depending on experience, plus enhanced family-friendly benefits, free eyecare vouchers and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Work in a small school where every pupil is known and valued, not lost in a crowd
- Career development and training funded by the provider, with real progression opportunities if you want to grow into senior or specialist roles
- Join a supportive team that's committed to helping you flourish and deliver excellent education to young people who genuinely need what you have to give
Is this you?
- Are you numerate and literate to at least GCSE level (A-C) or NVQ Level 2, or can you pass our maths and English test?
- Have you worked as a teaching assistant or in a similar role in a primary or secondary setting and can you show what you learned from it?
- Are you comfortable with computers for both teaching and admin, and happy to keep your skills current?
- Do you genuinely want to reflect on your own practice, spot what you need to learn next and actually pursue it?
- Can you commit to safeguarding as a mindset, not just a box to tick, and build real relationships with pupils and their families?
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.