Teaching Assistant
Orchard Manor School, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 9SF14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
ASAP
Closing date
5 November 2026 at 4pm
Date listed
22 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher or lecturer
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £25,923.00 Annually (FTE) £18,828 Actual
Teaching Assistant job summary
About us:
At Orchard Manor School, we are proud to be a truly inclusive community where every pupil is known, valued and supported to thrive. Our work is grounded in our core values of respect, relationships, kindness, community, and health & happiness, which shape everything we do.
We are a specialist school with an outstanding residential provision, supporting pupils aged 3-19 with autism, communication and interaction needs, and associated learning needs. Through strong relationships, high aspirations and a nurturing approach, we create an environment where pupils feel safe, understood and able to succeed.
Set within beautiful woodland grounds near the seaside town of Dawlish, our school offers a unique learning environment where outdoor learning, creativity and individualised support
The Role:
We are seeking caring, adaptable and enthusiastic Teaching Assistants to join our team.
This is a rewarding opportunity to work within a supportive specialist setting where every day brings the chance to make a genuine difference to pupils’ learning, wellbeing and independence.
As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with Teachers and wider professionals to support pupils both inside and outside of the classroom. You will help create positive learning experiences, encourage confidence and communication, and support pupils to thrive socially, emotionally and academically.
We are looking for people who bring warmth, patience, positivity and a genuine passion for supporting children and young people with SEND.
This role would suit:
- An experienced Teaching Assistant looking for a rewarding specialist setting
- Someone interested in developing a career in education or SEND
- Individuals with transferable care or support experience who are passionate about helping young people thrive
- At Orchard Manor School, we are committed to developing our staff and creating opportunities for professional growth and progression.
Key Responsibilities:
As a Teaching Assistant, you will:
Support pupils with learning, communication and social development
Build positive and nurturing relationships with pupils
Work with small groups or individual pupils under the guidance of teaching staff
Help create engaging, structured and positive learning experiences
Support pupils with emotional regulation and wellbeing
Contribute to a calm, safe and inclusive learning environment
Support pupils with personal care and medical needs where required and training has been provided
Deliver interventions and therapeutic programmes under guidance
Work collaboratively with Teachers, families and wider professionals
Support pupils during activities including outdoor learning, enrichment and educational visits
You may support pupils with a range of communication, sensory, social, emotional and learning needs across our pathways.
Our Total Reward Offer:
The Special Partnership Trust recognises the importance of developing a properly implemented People Strategy to underpin the overall strategic aims of the Trust.
Our People Strategy is designed to help us attract prospective high calibre candidates, as well as drive engagement, productivity and retention of our high performing and high potential employees. It reflects our belief in putting our people first. This does not mean putting our learners second. It is based on the philosophy that if we create a positive and rewarding work environment, if our staff feel motivated, well managed and well supported, they in turn will provide the best possible outcome for our learners.
We recognise that our total reward offer, has got to consist of more than just money. We seek to provide our staff with a diverse range of benefits that support their day to day needs both at work and outside of work. These include generous leave entitlements and pension scheme as well as access to health/wellbeing tools, training & development, career pathways and opportunities to ensure they feel valued.
Please visit the Special Partnership website, www.specialpartnership.org for further information about our Trust, or to learn more about our People Strategy and Benefits click here.
If you need the application form or any part of the recruitment process in a different format, please contact us directly at kbuckle-cooper@orchard-manor.org and we will make the necessary adjustments.
Are you ready to make a lasting impact? Join us today.
Safeguarding:
The Special Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the satisfactory completion of checks and references, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In accordance with guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education; the Trust will undertake an online search of all shortlisted candidates.
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 Orchard Manor School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 3 to 19
- Size
- 227 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Orchard Manor School website
School location
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