Teaching Assistant

Dumfries, United Kingdom | Posted on 02/09/2026

Our mission is to support young people to recover from trauma, live fulfilled lifestyles and engage in lifelong learning to transition on to positive destinations.

Our vision is to be the most trusted therapeutic care and education provider throughout the UK. We trust our staff to help support and nurture our young people to have the best outcomes.

Our difference is that we believe in a holistic approach: that the smallest details can mean a world of difference to a vulnerable young person.

We sweat the small stuff.

Job Description – Teaching Assistant

Job Title:
Teaching Assistant

Location:

Greenleaf School, Dumfries, Scotland
Department:
Education

Hours:

40 hours
Salary:£ 27,976 - £30,447

Job Purpose

The Teaching Assistant will play an important role in supporting the delivery ofhigh-quality, nurturing and individualised education to children and young people attending Greenleaf School.

Our young people may have experienced trauma, disrupted education, care transitions andother barriers to learning. The Teaching Assistant will work alongside teachers, education colleagues, care teams and other professionals to create asafe, predictable and engaging learning environment where every young person is supported to participate, achieve and progress.

The role requires a relationship-based and trauma-informed approach, recognising that behaviour is communication and that positive relationships are central to successful learning.

Key Responsibilities

1. Supporting Learning and Teaching

• Support teachers in the planning and delivery of engaging, differentiated and individualised learning activities.
• Workwith individual young people and small groups under the direction of the teacher.
• Support young people to engage with their individual learning programmes andagreed educational outcomes.
• Adapt activities and resources to meet individual learning needs, abilities and communication styles.
• Encourage independence, confidence, curiosity and participation in learning.
• Support young people to develop literacy, numeracy, digital and wider life skills.
• Assist with practical, vocational, outdoor and community-based learning where appropriate.
• Provide feedback to teaching staff regarding engagement, progress and any barriers to learning.
• Contribute to the preparation and organisation of classrooms, learning resources and educational activities.
• Develop safe, consistent and professional relationships with children and young people.
• Promotea nurturing environment in which young people feel respected, listenedtoand valued.
• Support young people who may experience emotional dysregulation, anxiety,frustration or difficulty engaging with education.
• Usetrauma-informed, relational and restorative approaches when responding to behaviour.
• Recognise individual triggers, strengths, communication needs and strategies identified within young people's plans.
• Encourage young people to recognise their achievements and develop positive aspirations for their future.
• Support young people to make appropriate choices and increasingly take responsibility for their learning.

3. Additional Support Needs

• Provide appropriate support to young people with additional support needs in accordance with individual plans and professional guidance.
• Support communication, emotional regulation, sensory needs and learning needs where required.
• Implement agreed strategies consistently across the school day.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, psychology, care staff and other professionals to ensure a coordinated approach.
• Contribute observations and information to reviews of young people's progress and support needs.

4. Safeguarding and Wellbeing

All Greenleaf employees have a responsibility to safeguard and promote thewellbeing of children and young people.

The Teaching Assistant will:

• Remain alert to signs that a child or young person may be experiencing harm,abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• Follow Greenleaf's child protection and safeguarding procedures at all times.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns in accordance with organisational procedures.
• Support young people to understand their rights and how to raise concerns.
• Promotea culture where young people feel safe to speak and know that adults will listen and respond.
• Maintain confidentiality while recognising that safeguarding information must beshared appropriately.

5. Positive Behaviour and Regulation

• Support young people to develop emotional regulation and positive coping strategies.
• Usecalm, consistent and respectful communication.
• Apply agreed behaviour support and risk-management strategies.
• Usede-escalation and relational approaches wherever possible.
• Participate in Greenleaf's approved training relating to trauma, safeguarding,behaviour and crisis management.
• Contribute to post-incident reflection and learning where appropriate.
• Neveruse punitive, humiliating or unnecessarily restrictive approaches.

6. The Promise and Children's Rights

The Teaching Assistant will contribute to Greenleaf's commitment to keeping The Promise and promoting…