Teaching Assistant

About us

Welcome to Orchard Manor School. At Orchard Manor School, we are proud to be a truly inclusive community where every pupil is known, valued and supported to thrive. Our work is grounded in our core values of respect, relationships, kindness, community, and health & happiness, which shape everything we do.

We are a specialist school with an outstanding residential provision, supporting pupils aged 3-19 with autism, communication and interaction needs, and associated learning needs. Through strong relationships, high aspirations and a nurturing approach, we create an environment where pupils feel safe, understood and able to succeed.

Set within beautiful woodland grounds near the seaside town of Dawlish, our school offers a unique learning environment where outdoor learning, creativity and individualised support are central to school life.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Support pupils with learning, communication and social development
• Build positive and nurturing relationships with pupils
• Work with small groups or individual pupils under the guidance of teaching staff
• Help create engaging, structured and positive learning experiences
• Support pupils with emotional regulation and wellbeing
• Contribute to a calm, safe and inclusive learning environment
• Support pupils with personal care and medical needs where required and training has been provided
• Deliver interventions and therapeutic programmes under guidance
• Work collaboratively with Teachers, families and wider professionals
• Support pupils during activities including outdoor learning, enrichment and educational visits

You may support pupils with a range of communication, sensory, social, emotional and learning needs across our pathways.

• Is passionate about supporting children and young people with SEND
• Builds strong, positive and respectful relationships
• Is patient, resilient, adaptable and calm under pressure
• Has excellent teamwork and communication skills
• Can support pupils with a nurturing and consistent approach
• Understands the importance of inclusion, wellbeing and safeguarding
• Is willing to learn, develop and undertake specialist training where required
• Has high expectations alongside kindness, empathy and compassion

Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.

We recognise that our total reward offer has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.

The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.