Oaklands School is a wonderful place to work with unique learners and a dedicated, creative and supportive staff team. We are excited to have expanded by almost 25% in August 2023 and we are looking to recruit teaching assistants who are keen to work with our amazing children aged 4-11, all of whom have complex speech, language and communication needs, mostly on the autistic spectrum. Please look at our website for more information about our school and our pupil's special needs.
We can offer you an excellent induction package and a clear path for career progression, as all of our L3 TAs are internally promoted. We have also supported three TAs to become teachers at the school.
We love learning! We invest in all of our staff to develop their knowledge, skills and expertise through (at least) fortnightly CPD sessions and the involvement of all staff in School Improvement Teams (SITs). The governors are also members of the SITs and work closely with staff at all levels, so that everyone can feel they are part of our continuing journey of excellence.
We are a Good school on the path to become an Outstanding school, according to Ofsted and Challenge Partners, having been inspected in January 2018. We have become an Inclusion Quality Mark Flagship School and we are the only city school to have National Autism Society Advanced Accreditation.
Oaklands’ families, staff and children are friendly and our team work closely to ensure all our children meet their full potential, academically, personally and socially.
We have distinctive learner pathways and a skills-based curriculum and bespoke assessment system, OPAL. Good professional relationships are key to our success and we want everyone in the Oaklands family to thrive and succeed. We have the highest expectations for our learners and our staff, and know that positive wellbeing is essential for good learning. This means we have built in staff wellbeing strategies and attention to workload throughout the school organisation, as well as offering a calendar of wellbeing events.
Why work here?
One of our internally recruited L3 TAs says: “Because together, we can build a culture that supports learning and development for pupils and staff”.
Our 2022 Challenge Partners report quoted a L2 TA saying: “You have got to know the pupils and at Oaklands we’re a team, we all have an input’.
One of our brilliant children says: “Come and teach children and have fun.”
Hours of Work: 8.30am to 3.15pm (32 hours per week) Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays: whole school meeting at the end of the school day)
Annual Salary Range: £22,369 - £24,054 pro rata for 39 weeks (£16,696 - £17,954 ACTUAL SALARY)
Start date: as soon as possible
Closing date is Wednesday 10th April at 9am, with interviews tbc
Experience in SEND is desirable; however, experience of working with children or vulnerable adults is essential. NVQ Level 2 and GCSE English & Maths or equivalent are essential. Two professional references are required and they will be requested prior to the interview if you are selected. Character references are not acceptable. Please apply on eteach.
Appointment subject to:
- Satisfactory medical report arranged by school
- Enhanced DBS check arranged by school
- Satisfactory references
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants will be required to undertake pre-employment checks, such as an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. Applicants who will be undertaking early and/or later years childcare (or the management of such childcare) will be required to complete a declaration that neither they, nor anyone who lives in the same household, is a disqualified person under the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009.