Most teaching assistant roles feel like you're just managing behaviour and filling worksheets. This one is different: you'll build genuine relationships with young people who've experienced real trauma and adversity, and through those connections, you'll unlock their engagement, motivation and learning. If you've ever wondered what it would feel like to do work that actually changes lives, this is your chance to find out
Picture yourself as a trusted adult in a young person's day. You arrive at 8.30am on a Monday and immediately spot one of your students struggling. Because you've spent weeks building a real relationship with them, they trust you enough to talk. You help them regulate, refocus, and by the end of the lesson they've learned something new and felt safe doing it. That's the job
The school is trauma-informed and attachment-focused, which means the whole team understands that these young people's brains work differently. You won't be expected to manage chaos alone. You'll work alongside a supportive team of people who genuinely get it, and you'll have access to excellent training to deepen your understanding of neurodevelopmental needs, attachment, and relationship-based practice. Everyone here starts somewhere, and all levels of experience are welcome
You'll have real career structure too. Teaching Assistants with relevant experience are placed at the appropriate level of the pay scale from day one, and the training opportunities here mean you can grow into greater responsibility and expertise over time. This is a charity built on the belief that every young person deserves to be understood and supported, and that belief runs through everything they do
What you will be doing
- Establish and nurture key relationships with students, using attachment and trust as the foundation for all your work together
- Support engagement, motivation and skills development through one-to-one or small group teaching as directed by the SENCo
- Implement the school's trauma-informed, relationship-based approach in every interaction
- Deliver structured support including phonics and other literacy interventions tailored to individual need
Why you will love working here
- Salary from £22,725 per annum, with experience-based placement on the pay scale
- Free onsite parking and free lunch and meals provided every day
- Excellent training opportunities to develop your expertise in SEN, trauma-informed practice and relationship-based support
- Pension scheme, Health Cash Plan for employees, and an employee welcome bonus worth up to £600 in your first year
- A genuinely supportive team environment where all levels of experience are welcomed, plus access to Blue Light discount card
Is this you?
- Are you kind, caring, adaptable and reliable? That matters more than you might think
- Do you have an understanding or experience of education settings and how they tick?
- Are you keen to learn and willing to embrace evidence-based models of best practice in supporting young people with complex needs?
- Is experience of or interest in phonics something you bring, or something you'd love to develop?
- Can you commit to Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm?
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.