Join our passionate team at Castle Wood, a vibrant special needs school supporting 168 pupils aged 3 to 11 with a range of needs, including PMLD, SLD, ASD, and complex behavioural challenges. As an Apprentice Teaching Assistant, you'll work alongside experienced staff to gain skills and complete a Level 3 Apprenticeship. We're looking for individuals with a can-do attitude, a strong commitment, and the ability to work well in a team. You'll support children with diverse needs, including profound and multiple learning difficulties, all while growing professionally.Working hours:Monday to Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PMThursday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PMFriday: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PMWhile there may be opportunities for a permanent position after the apprenticeship, this is not guaranteed.We Offer:An exciting training program to help develop your skills.A supportive mentor to guide you through your apprenticeship.The opportunity to work with fabulous, enthusiastic children.A welcoming and supportive school team.Opportunities to collaborate with experts from various disciplines.A Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Teaching Assistance.Excellent work-life balance.Access to occupational health services, including counselling.Discounts and rewards, including cycle-to-work schemes and childcare vouchers.Our ValuesOur vision, "Together, children first," reflects our belief that everyone plays a vital role in helping our pupils reach their full potential.Our values drive everything we do at Castle Wood. The school values are honesty, integrity, trust, empathy, respect.What is the job role?We are currently looking for Apprentice Teaching Assistants with positions starting at Easter or September 2025. As part of the classroom team, you will work across the school and provide support to colleagues as needed.You will be supporting children with a variety of special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down’s Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD), as well as other overlapping conditions. Some children may be non-verbal or have challenging behaviours.Key Responsibilities:Collaborate with the classroom team to support colleagues, under the direction of the class teacher and leadership team.Help create a safe, supportive learning environment aligned with the school’s vision and values.Stay updated on educational trends through training, reading, and sharing knowledge, while gaining skills to support students with SEN.Assist in maintaining and organizing the classroom environment and resources.Implement individualized learning programs, keep accurate records, and assist with marking and maintaining learning materials.Contribute to tracking and assessing students' progress and attainment.Who are we looking for?Desired Skills:Experience with children in educational settings or a willingness to learn about Special Educational Needs (SEN).Strong communication skills, basic tech proficiency, and a commitment to the school’s policies and child protection guidelines.Basic understanding of child development and ability to provide constructive feedback to support pupil progress.Personal Qualities:Strong interpersonal skills to build positive relationships with children and adults, while maintaining confidentiality.Patience, adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and a caring nature to support diverse learning needs.Initiative to contribute to a positive learning environment and ensure pupil progress.We Are Looking For Someone Who Has:Strong general education with at least 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and Maths, grade 4/equivalent or above.Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.A commitment to promoting the well-being and progress of all members of the school community, with high aspirations for both pupils and themselves.Interview date:Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check via the DBS. Following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) for an additional pre employment check with effect 1 Sept 22, please note, an online search may form part of this recruitment process.
