Special Support Assistant

The Link School, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 4PG

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  12 May 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  28 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other support roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 36 hours per week, Term-time only.
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: 1C/3, SP: 9 – 18, Actual £24,163.05 – £25,562.24 (FTE £28,218- £29,852)

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for a caring and committed Special Support Assistant to support our students' educational journey. Your day-to-day assistance will be crucial in providing the help and encouragement students need to thrive in a supportive classroom environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• To work under the guidance of the head of site in the planning and implementation of learning programmes for individuals or small groups of learners.

• To provide general support to the satellite teachers in the management and organisation of learners with special needs within the site.

• To assist the teachers in creating and maintaining a purposeful, orderly and supportive learning environment.

• To assist the specialist team in supporting children and young people within the local community and for some periods of time within home and school settings for young people accessing the outreach service.

• To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school.

Key Requirements:

• GCSEs including Maths and English
• Understanding/Knowledge of Children with Special Education Needs
• Ability to adapt activities to learners changing motivation and interest levels
• Understanding of safeguarding practice within a school environment
• Observe pupil learning behaviour and report observations to the teacher

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Home Electronics Scheme and Employee Car Lease Scheme )
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, My Gym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Special support assistant - JD Spec April 2026.pdf - 487 KB (opens in new tab)

About The Link School

• School type: Academy, ages 4 to 19
• School size: 157 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: The Link School website
• Email address: rrichards@thelinkschool.co.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/link-primary-school

The Link School specialises in meeting the needs of 148 students from 4-18 with Speech, Language and Communication difficulties including autistic spectrum conditions and Pathological Demand Avoidance. Situated in the London Borough of Sutton all three sites are easily accessible by public transport and well placed to draw upon a wide range of leisure, recreational and educational facilities having easy access to Surrey and London.

The school provides a warm, safe, friendly and nurturing environment, which helps pupils to learn, express their ideas, communicate, develop friendships and grow in confidence and self- esteem.

Staff provide pupils with an outstanding education based on strong practitioner research and the holistic curriculum offer that promotes strong personal and social education as well as cognitive development. It is a rewarding and inspirational place to work. To find out more about us visit www.thelinkschool.co.uk

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Croydon and Surrey