Teaching Assistant Compass Learning Centre

Teaching Assistant:
Permanent

Hours:

32‑35 hours per week, over 5 days. Paid weeks: term time including INSET day (45.05 paid weeks). Salary Scale:
Grade 5‑6, points 5‑9 depending on experience. Actual salary range for 35 hours per week £20,909 - £22,275 PA (Pay Award pending).

Compass Learning Centre is looking to appoint two enthusiastic and energetic Teaching Assistants, starting 1 September 2026, joining our team supporting students across Key Stage 3 and 4. Hours of work are available between 32 and 35 hours per week over 5 days, term time including INSET days. The salary range for this post is Dorset Council Grades 5‑6 dependent on experience, and we can offer a progression route through to Senior Teaching Assistant at Grade 7 for the right candidate.

This post would suit someone who enjoys working with young people, either in a professional or volunteer role, and who would like to make a difference to the lives of young people with complex needs and challenging behaviour. Whether you are looking to gain experience during a gap year before going onto higher education, or an opportunity to build on existing skills or experience, this could be the perfect job for you.

This position is challenging but rewarding and will require you to work both alongside teachers and other education professionals as well as independently under teachers' direction, supporting the work of groups of children and individuals. Duties are varied, depending on the age and additional needs of the students concerned.

• Have achieved a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4/C or above, including English and Mathematics.
• Ideally have experience working with young people with complex needs and challenging behaviours.
• Promote the inclusion of all students.
• Contribute to the safeguarding and protection of all students.

The young people we educate have struggled to maintain a place in mainstream school and come to us with a variety of additional needs. Our challenge is to help them build the confidence, knowledge and skills to unlock their potential. This role will suit someone who is caring, understanding and can demonstrate energy and enthusiasm with a strong positive behaviour management ethos.

Class sizes are small and all of our students need bespoke individualised learning.

If you are a good team player, who is motivated, patient, resilient, understanding and have the ability to establish a rapport with young people in a busy and lively setting, this may be the job for you. You will be joining an outstanding, hardworking and friendly team of staff.

Compass Learning Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure & Barring Service check in line with the Government’s safer recruitment guidelines. We value the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.

The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements. The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of the advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.