29 days remaining to apply

  • Job start date

    1 September 2026

  • Closing date

    19 June 2026 at 12pm (midday)

  • Date listed

    21 May 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Teaching assistant

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Key stage

Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5

Working pattern

Full time: Monday to Friday - 8:45am till 3:15pm - Term Time only

Contract type

Permanent

Pay scale

£27,254 To be pro rated to £19,355.46

What skills and experience we're looking for

Fordwater is a great special school supporting children age 2-19 years with a range of special educational and complex learning needs including PMLD, SLD, and ASC. The school has been on an exciting, successful journey of development and are looking to expand our enthusiastic, committed and experienced team.

We are looking for Special Support Assistants who:

  • are caring and understanding of children’s needs
  • have high expectations of children’s behaviour and attainment
  • are very well organised & efficient
  • are able to work as part of a team
  • has experience of directly working with children with SEN

What the school offers its staff

We can offer you:

• a happy, positive, vibrant working environment
• an inclusive school with a wide and diverse community
• talented, enthusiastic and supportive colleagues who are committed to continuous improvement
• A highly specialist teaching and learning environment
• Excellent opportunities for CPD
• A warm positive working environment where everyone is valued

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

As a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits including:

  • a competitive salary
  • an excellent local government pension scheme
  • generous holiday entitlement of between 25 and 31 days, depending on job title and length of service
  • maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave
  • training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring
  • a range of discounts giving our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform (see our Staff discounts page if you are a business looking to offer a discount)
  • discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres
  • a range of commuting and business travel discount and initiatives
  • health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans
  • salary finance schemes
  • working for a veteran-friendly employer.

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.

Application forms to be emailed to Aneka Jeffs - operations@fordwatersch.co.uk

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.

View advert on school website (opens in new tab)

About Fordwater School, Chichester

School type
Special schools, Does not apply, ages 2 to 19
School size
193 pupils enrolled
Age range
2 to 19
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
School website
Fordwater School, Chichester website
Email address
aneka.jeffs@fordwatersch.co.uk
See more jobs
teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/fordwater-school-chichester

School location

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