Activity Support Officer

Fairfield School; Dewsbury; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A large special school in Dewsbury is seeking an enthusiastic Activity Support Officer to support the learning and welfare of pupils aged 3-19 years. Responsibilities include supporting classroom learning, providing personal care, and engaging pupils in play activities. Essential experience with children in a school setting and a commitment to supporting those with profound learning difficulties is required. The position offers a fixed-term contract during term time plus inset days.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Experience in a school environment with children/young people is essential.
• Experience with pupils who have profound and multiple learning difficulties is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support classroom learning and interventions.
• Provide personal care to pupils.
• Assist with lunch while promoting independence.
• Support medical and physical needs under specialist guidance.

Skills

Experience with children/young people

Support for personal care

Knowledge of special educational needs

Job description

Working Hours: 29 Hours per week, Monday to Thursday 8.45am-3pm, Friday 8.30am-3pm

Salary details: Grade 5, SCP 5 to 6

Contract Type: Fixed term contract, Term Time plus 5 Inset days.

Fairfield is a large special school which provides for learners with a diverse range of complex and profound learning difficulties including physical and medical needs from 3-19 years. Fairfield was judged to be a ‘good’ school by OFSTED in June 2022. Please watch a short 3-minute video to learn all about us, this can be viewed at https://fairfieldschool.uk/. If you like what you see and wish to help us embrace uniqueness please read on.

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic Activity Support Officer who is committed to supporting the learning and welfare of our pupils. Under the direction of the class teacher the main duties of the job role are to:

• Support classroom learning, interventions such as hydrotherapy, rebound, sensory integration and engage pupils in outdoor play
• Provide all aspects of personal care to our pupils both male and female, ranging in age from 3 to 19 years
• Feed pupils their lunch whilst promoting independence
• A particular emphasis would be in supporting, under the direction of specialists, the medical and physical needs of our pupils.

Experience of working with children/young people in a school environment is essential, and experience of working with pupils who have profound and multiple learning difficulties would be an advantage. Fairfield School has a proud commitment to developing our staff through continued professional development, and we fully utilise the Apprenticeship Levy to enable staff to gain on the job qualifications. Pupil and staff wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do, with a variety of initiatives running throughout the year, making Fairfield a fun and enjoyable place to work.

To apply for this job please download and complete the application form, paper copies are available by contacting the school. A CV is not required.

All enquiries and completed application forms should be sent to the Senior Business Leader by email [e-mail] or by post.

Closing date: Friday 9th January 2026 at 12pm

Interview date: Week Commencing Monday 19th January 2026

Start date: Monday 23rd February 2026

End date: 21st February 2027

Application Form

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form