Teaching Assistant

Still figuring out your next step? The best careers often start right there. At Willow Park School in Milton Keynes, you'll work with young people who have social, emotional and mental health needs. Brilliant, complicated kids who've often been let down before. Your job: be the adult who doesn't give up on them. No experience needed. Just patience, grit and a willingness to learn. We bring the rest, including full training in trauma informed practice, developed by our expert clinical team, that will change how you understand people for life. In addition to this, we provide a robust induction package which includes extensive safeguarding training and access to an entire suite of tailor-made online training programs - so you can drive your own professional development. Think of it less as a fallback and more as a foundation. You'll learn more about resilience and human behaviour in a year here than most grad schemes teach in three. And when a young person who trusted no one finally trusts you, you'll know it mattered. You don't need it all figured out. You just need to start somewhere worth it. We'll train you, back you, and grow you. Come and find out what you're capable of. What you'll do This is far more than a classroom support role. As a Teaching Assistant at Willow Park, you will become a key figure in a pupil's day - someone who helps them regulate, engage and believe in themselves again. You will:

• Support learning in the classroom and during off-site activities
• Build strong, trusting relationships with pupils who need consistency
• Use trauma-informed strategies to support emotional regulation
• Adapt learning to meet individual EHCP outcomes
• Work closely with teachers, therapists and the Inclusion Team
• Record progress, behaviour and safeguarding concerns accurately
• Promote independence, confidence and a sense of belonging
Every day will bring new challenges and new reasons to be proud of the difference you're making.


• Level 2 English and Maths or willing to undertake
• Calm, caring and emotionally resilient
• Able to set clear boundaries with warmth and consistency
• A strong communicator and collaborative team player
• Passionate about helping vulnerable young people succeed
• Adaptable and confident working across classrooms and outdoor learning
• Committed to safeguarding and professional integrity
  
  Willow Park School is a brand-new specialist school in Milton Keynes for young people aged 9-16 with a range of complex needs. Our aim is simple: to equip every child with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to succeed in the future. Through a therapeutic educational approach, supported by specialist facilities and an experienced team, we help students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH), communication, interaction, and associated challenging behaviours to flourish in a safe and nurturing environment.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people's lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact. We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth year running.

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support