Higher Level Teaching Assistant

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four*?

Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff, and within the next year – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG!

Job Title: Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Location: Overton School, Ludlow, SY8 4AD

Salary:    £25,000.00 per annum plus Welcome Bonus**

Hours:    40 hours per week, Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm

Contract Permanent, Term Time only

**£2000 Welcome Bonus payable as: £1,000 upon completion of probation (month 6) and a further £1,000 upon completing 12 months continuous employment - T&Cs apply.

UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant to join our close-knit team at Overton School located in Ludlow.

The opportunity

Enjoy a rewarding education career and have a real impact on pupils and young people’s lives. Join an amazing team creating supportive, nurturing environments where our pupils achieve far more than they ever expected.

As a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant, you will connect directly with the brilliant pupils and young people we care for, helping to make sure they get the very best from their education. Each individual has a diagnosis of Autism and may have additional needs. They have so much potential, and they will rely on you to guide their learning journeys bespoke to them.

You will help prepare learning materials and run classroom activities, with plenty of hands-on experience and some supervision too. You will take responsibility for their emotional and physical needs, supporting them to develop as individuals and engage with the world.

You will face challenges and overcome them as you flourish and thrive, sharing your skills and learning from others as your career takes you as high as you always dreamed you could go.

Every day will be different, but you will have all the support you need, with lots of skills and experience to draw on along with valuable advice and guidance too.

Who we are looking for

You will have your appropriate Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification or equivalent and you will be adaptable and ready to work in a variety of classroom roles, both indoors and outside according to individual need. Taking a responsive and caring approach, you may be running classroom activities, leading outdoor experiences or supervising pupils as they explore further afield.

Our schools are built on great teamwork and mutual support. If you enjoy working as part of a dedicated team, sharing knowledge, experience and learning, simply fill in our safeguarding-compliant application form and a member of our team will be in touch.

Required

• Teaching Assistant qualification
• Experienced HLTA WILL cover some class teaching.

About us

Overton School provides specialist education for young people between the ages of 7 – 18.

A nurturing and therapeutic setting comprising of a special school for autistic individuals, learning disabilities and other complex needs.

We are located in the beautiful Shropshire countryside on the periphery of the market town of Ludlow. The school is situated in a large characterful Victorian building sensitively adapted to meet the varying needs of up to 45 young people.

Our school offers a purposeful learning environment with dedicated learning spaces which facilitate the provision of a bespoke education through carefully planned educational pathways.

We are dedicated to improving the lives of the young people we care for, their families and their interactions with the local community.

For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.

*Please note we are an independent school and therefore our school terms will differ from others in the local area.

Why join Options Autism?​

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support. 

And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy.