Specialist Teaching Assistant - Dove House Academy

Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Specialist Teaching Assistant

Band 5

37 hours a week, term time only, permanent.

FTE Salary £27,347 - £29,171

Actual Salary £23,718 - £25,300 + SEN Allowance

Dove House is seeking to recruit hardworking, enthusiastic, confident and highly motivated Specialist Teaching Assistants to join our fantastic support team on a permanent basis.

Dove House is a popular, successful and highly regarded school in Basingstoke, for students with moderate/severe learning difficulties and autism, aged between 11-19. We are proud to be an ‘Outstanding’ school but retain our passion to keep moving forward.

In this key position, you will have responsibility for safely transporting our pupils to and from school as well as providing learning and care support, including personal intimate care, for pupils with special educational needs.

You must be able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, tact and resilience when dealing with challenging circumstances, as well as being able to use your initiative and manage your own time well.

Experience of working with primary or secondary pupils with complex special needs would be advantageous.

You will drive our school minibus, therefore, a UK D1 Manual Driving Licence is essential for this role.

Training will be given to the successful candidate.

Our Relational Culture Charter guides us to work together and support each other through:

Valuing Difference

Effective Communication

High Challenge & High Support to Empower

Respect for All

Solution-Focused Approaches

We believe that when relationships thrive, people thrive – and so do the children and young people we serve.

By joining Dove House Academy, we offer you

Excellent staff induction with a commitment to high-quality professional development aligned in relational leadership and HR excellence

A culture rooted in relational practice, belonging, and well-being

A workplace where your values, voice, and contribution truly matter

Local Government Pension Scheme with the option of a 50/50 contribution to build over time

Competitive employer pension contribution

Increase in paid weeks after 5 years of service from 45.1 weeks to 45.9 weeks

SEN Allowance with an increase after 3 and 5 years of service

Confidential Counselling & Wellbeing Support Service

Life Insurance - 3 times annual salary (for members of the pension scheme)

Free onsite parking

Access to our onsite Fitness Suite

CPD opportunities to support Career development

Employee Referral Scheme

Employee Benefits Platform

The working hours for these roles are

Morning Shift: Monday to Thursday, 7am – 3pm and Friday 7am – 2.30pm.

Afternoon Shift: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am – 4.30pm and Friday 9am – 4.30pm.

You will work for 39 weeks of the year; however, you will be paid for 45.1 weeks.  Your salary will be paid over 12 months of the year.

If you want to make a positive difference and enrich the lives of our pupils, then this could be the school for you!

For more details, please visit our jobs board Dove House Academy | SAMpeople Recruit

For any questions, please email our Talent team [email protected].

Closing Date for applications is Monday 7th December 2026, 9am

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 16th December 2026

Solent Academies Trust welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or religion. Only applications submitted on the academy’s application form will be accepted Solent Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.