Job Title: Teaching Assistant

Location: Walsall

Oakwood School is a specialist provision for children and young people aged 3 - 15 years with complex educational needs.  The school is commissioned for 267 places (September 2025).

We pride ourselves in providing a safe, stimulating and nurturing learning environment where we help our pupils to learn in bespoke and innovative ways to ensure optimum progression.

Our highly qualified staff coupled with our forward-thinking approach to resources and technology, allow learners to communicate and participate in the world around them.

We promote a wide range of high-quality learning experiences, catering for all learning styles so that no learner is ever left behind.

At Oakwood everyone is valued and treated with respect and is encouraged to be the best they can possibly be.

Our Vision

At Oakwood School we are nurtured to grow and flourish.

We promote a culture of positivity, ambition and resilience through pupil centred learning to engage, motivate and empower learners in all areas of their lives. 

Learners are at the heart of our school. Together with their families, we foster strong supportive teams around them to build on strengths and overcome barriers, embracing creativity, innovation and technology.

We maximise potential, grow independence and celebrate all achievements.

Our Mission

As a hub of the community, it is our responsibility to create opportunities for every learner to be the best that they can possibly be! Through our personalised curriculum learners will develop emotionally, physically and holistically. Learners will feel valued, respected and safe in our happy and inclusive environment.

Find more information here:   Oakwood School

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a Teaching Assistant to join our team. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

SUPPORT FOR PUPILS

· Supervise and provide particular support for pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and

access to learning activities

· Assist with the development and implementation of Individual Education/Behaviour Plans and Personal Care

programmes.

· Establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs

· Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils

· Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher

· Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence

· Provide Feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under guidance of the teacher

· Attend to the pupils’ personal needs and implement related personal programmes, including social, health,

physical, hygiene, first aid and welfare matters as required

SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHER

· Create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and supportive environment, in accordance with lesson plans and assist

with the display of pupils work

· Use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support pupils to achieve learning goals

· Assist with the planning of learning activities

· Monitor pupils’ responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement/progress as directed

· Provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on pupils’ achievement, progress, problems etc.

· Promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and

encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour

· Establish constructive relationships with parents/carers

· Administer routine tests and invigilate exams and undertake routine marking of pupils’ work

· Provide clerical/admin. Support e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, money, administer coursework etc

SUPPORT FOR THE CURRICULUM

· Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses

· Undertake programmes linked to local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, KS3, early years recording achievement and progress and feeding back to the teacher

· Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use

· Prepare, maintain and use equipment/resources required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assist pupils in their use.

SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL

· Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person

· Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop

· Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school · Appreciate and support the role of other professionals

· Attend and participate in relevant meetings as required, within normal contractual hours

· Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required

· Assist with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times, including before and after school and at lunchtime · Accompany teaching staff and pupils on visits, trips and out of school activities as required and take responsibility for a group under supervision of the teacher

Pay range: Grace 5 SCP 9-17

Qualifications and Skills: 

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE

Effective use of ICT to support learning

Use of other equipment technology - video, photocopier

Understanding of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of relevant legislation

General understanding of national/foundation stage curriculum and other basic learning programmes/strategies

Basic understanding of child development and learning

Ability to self-evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities

Ability to relate well to children and adults

Work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and

responsibilities and your own position within these

An awareness of, and commitment to, equality of opportunity

For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community. Our recent achievements include:

Sustainable Growth - becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region

Social Mobility & Social Justice - National recognition for the Trust’s two selective grammar schools who the most successful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools

Increasing Opportunities – Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers

Pioneering Spirit – National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, including establishing an in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students

Outward Looking – Organising and hosting the region’s first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park