EYFS Teaching Assistant (SEMH)
Wilds Lodge School – Rutland
£23,144 Actual Salary (rising to £23,644 on completion of level 3 NVQ)
Permanent and Term Time Only
Start date: January 2026

Job role
We are excited to offer the opportunity to join our wonderful school and work with our exceptional learners. We are currently recruiting for an Early Years Foundation Stage Therapeutic Teaching Assistant to work in a friendly and supportive environment where your input will be key in achieving positive outcomes for our young people.

The appointed person will nurture and support young people throughout their day following the nurture principles to assist them with their learning and emotional regulation.

Duties include assisting planning in the moment learning opportunities in order to address the next steps of learning through play based activities and assess their progress against the EYFS framework through observation, some aspects of self-care and medication handling. To actively promote the rights of young people as individuals and provide them with quality care in accordance with the policies and procedures of the school. To use a collaborative and multi- agency holistic approach to delivering a therapeutic education provision which includes attention to health and safety awareness, risk management and the safeguarding of young people. The EYFS Therapeutic Teaching Assistant will be expected to achieve positive outcomes for all young people by leading by example, providing professionalism at all times and ensuring high levels of commitment, good child care practice and safeguarding to young people.

What you'll need to succeed
We are seeking people who thrive on working in a challenging but immensely rewarding environment, who are passionate about supporting the development of social, life and independence skills and who truly want to make a difference in the lives of young people. Experience of working with people with autism is not necessary, but a commitment to learning is.

About Wilds Lodge
Wilds Lodge School is an independent 38 week specialist boarding and day provision for boys and girls (girls are accepted as day learners only) for learners aged between 5 and 19 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, set in Empingham, Rutland. All the learners at the school have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
It was established in 2007 and aims to place an equal emphasis on the educational, social and psychological development of our learners.
The key to the success of the school is a strong ethos, developed by a highly experienced and capable staff, and the strength of the relationships between the staff and the learners.

We are a friendly school where staff are supportive of each other inside and outside of the classroom. We pride ourselves in ensuring all members of staff including our support staff have access to regular training.
All our members of staff attend regular training on child protection; mental health and multi-agency working. All staff access a wide range of training on areas of SEN such as Autism, attachment and ADHD.

Desirable experience/qualifications

● GCSE/O’level or equivalent
● You will hold or be willing to undertake a funded NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
● Experience working with children with social, emotional and mental health difficulties (desirable)
● A valid driving licence is required

Benefits include:

● Free onsite parking
● Free refreshments and meals whilst on duty
● Company events
● Gym membership
● Access to an employee assistance programme
● Group life cover 2 x salary from day 1
● Excellent CPD packages, paid induction training and opportunities for part funding of further training including HLTA, Master Degrees and Teacher Training
● Excellent promotion and career progression
● Sick pay
● 3 days off paid for dependants sickness
● Enhanced paid family friendly leave
● Christmas vouchers

Our learners are incredibly important to us; if you have a caring nature, you're interested in making a real difference and impacting positively on the lives of our students, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply:

For more information and a full application pack, please contact Mike Sherwin on the below details:

E: wildslodge@hays.com
T: 07525 889925

Closing date for applications: 26th November 2025

Strong applications may be considered upon receipt
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The following is expected of all staff:
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check