Teaching Assistant

Are you well-motivated and willing to get involved in learning how to support our amazing young people? Are you resilient when things are sometimes a challenge? Do you have good spoken English skills and are you an effective communicator? This could be the role for you! We are looking to expand our team of TAs here at Woodlands Secondary School. We currently have TA1 positions. We offer an interesting and relevant curriculum which aims to support our students to develop their independence skills and to be successful in their lives beyond school. You will be working alongside a great team of staff who are motivated to support our students in all areas of their learning and development. Our Teaching Assistants (TAs) play a vital role working alongside our class teachers to support our amazing students to fulfil their potential and to develop their independence skills. Staff may work with individual students or small groups to assist them to access our broad balanced, fun, relevant and functional curriculum. Our students have a range of learning difficulties and needs, including some physical or sensory needs and sometimes students present with some challenging behaviours. Promoting good communication skills is a key element of the role; good spoken and written English skills are essential. Some of our students require additional support and assistance; this may mean assisting students with personal care, helping to implement physiotherapy programmes or supporting students to understand and regulate their emotions and behaviours. TAs supervise the students at lunch time and break times and play a key role in ensuring that the students are safeguarded and their welfare promoted. You may be directed by the Head Teacher to work on either site depending on operational requirements of the school. Please note the school reserves the right to close adverts prior to the closing date if a sufficient response is received. Early applications are advised in the light of this. Working in a special school is a unique and privileged opportunity for the right people. We advise interested parties to ensure they have looked at the school website and our Facebook Page - Official Woodlands Secondary School, in order to get a flavour of our school. Benefits of working at Woodlands Secondary School An extensive induction training programme over a 12 month period. The training programme covers: safeguarding Free access to Employee Assistance provided by PAM Wellness- this is confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days per week Enhanced pension, employers’ contribution and death in service payment Opportunities to progress and develop your career Free tea and coffee Access to our on site cafe 4 days per week - sit in or take away, Loyalty cards available. Opportunity to be entered into a half termly draw to win a cafe voucher - based on good attendance Access to onsite gym Discounted membership rates at Active Luton Application form When completing the letter of application, please ensure you address all the points in the essential column on the person specification. Closing Date The closing date for applications is 28 September 2026 Interviews We will invite successful candidates into school to spend a day in classes as part of the interview process. These visits will take place on Thursday 1 October, Monday 5 October - Wednesday 6 October, 9.00 am- 3.00pm. Interviews will be Monday 12 October. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. This post meets the definition of ‘Regulated Activity’ as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended). Because of the nature of this job, it will be necessary for an enhanced DBS check to be undertaken. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare all unspent cautions and convictions; and also any adult cautions (simple or conditional), and spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). A person’s criminal record will not in itself prevent a person from being appointed to this post. Applicants will not be refused posts because of offences which are not relevant to, and do not place them at or make them a risk in, the role for which they are applying. However in the event of the employment being taken up, any failure to disclose such offence, as detailed above, will result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the Authority. IT IS AN OFFENCE TO APPLY FOR A ROLE WORKING IN REGULATED ACTIVITY IF YOU ARE BARRED FROM WORKING WITH CHILDREN PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED POLICIES - Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy - Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy