[251015] Therapy Assistant
The Springfields Academy, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 0DS18 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 December 2025
Closing date
2 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
15 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £31,537.00 - £33,699.00 Annually (FTE) NJC Grade H pt 15 - 17
[251015] Therapy Assistant job summary
We are looking for a passionate and inspirational Therapy Assistant to join our team at The Springfields Academy.
Post: Therapy Assistant
Location: Curzon Street, Calne. Wilshire, SN11 0DS
FTE Salary Range: Grade H Pt 15-17: £31,537 - £33,699
Actual Salary Range: £25,220 - £26,949, Pro Rata
Contract Type: Permanent, Part-time, Term Time Only
Contracted Hours: 33.25 hrs Per week, 39 weeks per year
The Role:
We are looking for a Therapy Assistant to join our child-centred team. Springfields is a fantastic, vibrant and caring community that engages pupils. Our autism approach is accessed by all our pupils and is personalised to meet specific needs. All our pupils have an education, health and care plan. The Springfields Academy is a Reach South Academy for young people aged 4-19 with autism, we are proud to hold the NAS Advanced specialist award and to be recognised as an Ofsted good school. We have 268 pupils attending our provision. Our goal is to build safe independent lives for autistic young people through support, understanding and enablement. Part of the excitement of working at Springfields is the broad range of individuals that you will care for. A key aspect of working at Springfields is taking the time to get to know pupils and their individual needs, and given their complexity, being able to create a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment is crucial. You will be joining a happy, hardworking and well-established team. You will also work in partnership with our multi-disciplinary therapy team as part of our therapy first culture. About the successful candidate The position of Therapy Assistant is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and compassionate individual to lead interventions and support our learners with autism.
Key skills: To have a good knowledge and understanding of autism and social communication needs and appropriate strategies to support pupils with this need. To have knowledge and understanding of social, emotional & mental health needs and cognitive needs, that affect children and young people's development. Excellent listening skills An ability to build strong, trusting relationships To be resilient and able to work autonomously Promote and support the inclusion of all pupils in activities that they enjoy To use positive and personalised anxiety management strategies
About the School:
The Springfields Academy is specialist academy for 268 pupils aged 4-19 who have a diagnosis of autism and/or present with a speech, language and communication need. Over recent years the school has substantially grown in response to Wiltshire need and now offers high quality research based education to its population.
The Springfields Academy builds safe, independent lives through support, understanding and enablement for our autistic population. To achieve this goal, we look at the unique impact autism has on the individual child and as a result, personalise the child’s curriculum, care and therapeutic package to ensure every child achieves and experiences success and independence. This model is based on personalisation and innovation, and we pride ourselves on approach to meeting the presenting needs of all pupils.
We are proud to be recognised as an Ofsted ‘Good’ school that holds the NAS Advanced Specialist Award. We have a clear strategic vision of becoming a ‘centre and system of excellence’ for autism and are two years through a four-year plan to achieve this.
What is the Springfields Therapy Offer?
Our Therapy first culture lays the foundation lays the foundation for all our pupils to learn. Our Therapy Team implement our tiers of therapeutic support in Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language and Wellbeing. They detail our whole school and class approaches, group and individual therapy.
What is the curriculum offer? At Springfields we have two clear curriculum pathways. When pupils join us in Reception we assess which Curriculum pathway they will access from year 1. Discovery Curriculum - semi-formal Pathway. A SemiFormal Curriculum Pathway is a sensory and developmental curriculum, aimed at learners that are in the very early stages of learning and development. Discovery learners work consistently below the National Curriculum, with aspiration to work towards end of Key Stage 1 expectations by the end of Key Stage 4.
Explorer/Pathfinder Curriculum - following a formal curriculum pathway that makes reference to the National Curriculum. This Pathway is aimed at learners that are able to work within the levels of the national curriculum and Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. However, our curriculum is structured to bespoke curriculum journeys towards aspirational outcomes tailored for our pupils.
What Autism Enablement approaches are in place? Springfields' approach to autism enablement is based on the social model of support, removing barriers to enable our learners to thrive. Pupils benefit from an autism friendly environment and sensory support strategies where the TEACCH principles are embedded throughout our environment at whole school, class and individual level (as required). Our learning approach ensures that pupils have the opportunity to retrieve/recap information, develop key vocabulary and learn key concepts in a variety of ways using our 8 Steps to Lesson Success Model. As well as experiencing a Total Communication Environment, specific speech and language approaches are embedded into our teaching such as Attention Autism, shape coding, word aware, sensory stories, task cards and graphical organisers. In addition, our Discovery learners benefit from Intensive Interaction, Identiplay, PECs, Communication boards and aids and follow the SCERTS communication curriculum. How is Springfields structured? When pupils join us in Reception access a bespoke early years environment where we can gain a greater understanding of their academic and communication profile before they move onto a semi - formal or formal curriculum pathway. Primary and Secondary pupils up to Year 8 benefit from a ‘core class’ approach with consistent staff Pupils in Year 9/10 benefit from a ‘core class’ approach, with limited transitions to their chosen Pathway. We find this approach helps pupils to have a sense of belonging and reduces transitions, which may cause anxiety. Pupils in Year 10/11 can access a subject specific class having built up the self-reliance skills. In order to transition and organise themselves during their Springfields journey.
How are pupils prepared for adulthood? We appreciate that every child’s developmental journey to adulthood is unique. Our curriculum has a specific Personal Development focus which helps our pupils develop the knowledge and skills to inform post-school planning regards employment, independent living, community inclusion and health. The Annual Review of Education, Health and Care Plans encompasses a personal centred ‘My Life, My Way’ PATHs approach to planning provision and pupils’ next steps. All pupils access an accredited ‘Life and Living’ program personalised to their needs and we aspire that pupils achieve Duke of Edinburgh Award and qualifications in first aid, travel training and health. We are proud to host our annual Neurodiverse ‘Futures Fair’ which brings together employers, support services and further and higher education establishments to inspire our pupils at the possibilities that lie ahead post Springfields. Come and Join us! This is an exciting time to join Springfields! The school supports many schools and organisations across the South West of England and is positioning itself positively to support and respond to an ever changing national SEND picture.
Trust Background:
Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education. We operate 16 academies in Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dorset and Wiltshire. We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows. Our core business is delivering exceptional education for children and young people with a mission to help all pupils aspire to achieve beyond the expectations that others put on them. We do this through the development of a talented and committed workforce. In order to deliver exceptional opportunities for learning, we need highly motivated staff across all parts of the organisation. Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.
Next Steps:
If you have any queries about this role or would like an informal conversation, visits are warmly welcome, please get in touch by calling Liz Burns (Head of Therapy) on 01249 814125 or email liz.burns@springfieldsacademy.org. If you are experiencing any technical issues, please contact recruitment@reachsouth.org for support. Person Specification - Therapy Assistant Essential Desirable.
Closing date: for applications is midnight on 2nd November 2025
Interview Date: Interviews are provisionally booked for 10th November 2025
To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.
We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.
Opportunities and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.
We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About The Springfields Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 19
- School size
- 241 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Springfields Academy website
School location
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