Senior Support Assistant's - Chiltern Wood School

Overview

We are recruiting for a number of Senior Support Assistants to join our school in September 2026. These include:

SSA – Studley Green

SSA – Downley

SSA plus a number of maternity covers - Cressex

Salary: Bucks Pay Range 3

Contract: Permanent + FTC available

Hours: Full time

Closing date: 09/06/26

Interviews: Interviews: 16^th June 2026

About us

Chiltern Wood School is a Special School currently supporting over 200 students ranging from ages 3 to 19 years, located across three sites in Cressex, Downley and Studley Green.  We offer the opportunity to become part of a team of caring professionals, contributing purposefully to meeting the special educational needs of children in the High Wycombe area.  You will be well supported by welcoming and knowledgeable staff within a well-run, hard-working school which holds as its core value the wellbeing of its pupils, parents and staff. 

Website: https://www.chilternwood.bucks.sch.uk/

 

 

About the role

The role of SSA will work closely with the supporting the Class Teacher. The SSA will assist in the educational and social development of pupils under the direction and guidance of the class teacher, line manager and other school staff. As SSA you will also support and lead the class and team whilst the teacher has set preparation time during the week.

You will be well supported by experienced and welcoming staff within a well-run, hard-working school who put the wellbeing of pupils and staff at the forefront. We pride ourselves on building positive relationships with our pupils, their families and supporting professionals to enable communication, physical, social and emotional development for each individual.

If you are interested in learning how to contribute purposefully to the educational and social development of children and young people and you feel you have the qualities to successfully attend to their welfare and emotional needs, we want to hear from you!

Teaching and Learning

• Assist in the educational and social development of pupils under the direction and guidance of the class teacher, line manager and other school staff.
• Assist in the implementation of Individual Education Programmes and curriculum target setting for pupils and help monitor their progress.
• Provide support for individual pupils inside and outside the classroom to enable them to fully participate in activities.
• Work with other professionals, such as therapists and psychologists, as necessary.
• Assist with the maintenance of pupil records.
• Support pupils with a range of special needs and help develop their social skills.
• Plan and prepare one morning or afternoon lesson per week with support from the class teacher.
• Lead class to allow class teacher time for planning, preparation and assessment.
• Supervise class to cover short-term absence of class teacher as required.

Administrative Duties

• Ensure learning journals effectively captures pupils progress, under the direction of the class teacher.
• Daily communication with parents.
• Timely reporting of behaviour, medical, and safeguarding information.

Standards and Quality Assurance

• Support the aims and ethos of the school.
• Set a good example in terms of dress, punctuality and attendance.
• Attend team and staff meetings as required.
• Undertake professional duties that may be reasonably assigned by the class teacher.
• Be proactive in matters relating to health and safety.

Other duties and responsibilities

• Attend to the physical well-being of pupils as appropriate to their individual needs, including personal care.
• Actively supervise pupils at the beginning and end of the day, including escorting to transport.
• Actively supervise and engage pupils in a range of activities during break and lunchtimes.
• Undertake Team Teach training and be prepared to undertake any training necessary to support professional development.
• Undertake Child Protection training in accordance with Bucks Council guidance.

For further information please see attached Job description. 

Other information

Please refer to our website Vacancies — Chiltern Wood School for more information and job descriptions for each role.

All applications to be made via My New Term please.

SSA – Downley: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/110578/EDV-2026-CWS-84208

SSA plus a number of maternity covers - Cressex: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/110578/EDV-2026-CWS-79454

SSA - Cressex: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/110578/EDV-2026-CWS-17831

SSA – Studley Green: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/110578/EDV-2026-CWS-30315

Chiltern Wood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its pupils and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full vetting checks, including a disclosure of criminal records at an enhanced level, online searches and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.