Assistant Waking Night Childcare Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for a Residential Assistant Waking Night Childcare Officer to join our committed and friendly team on a permanent basis.

Meath School, Brox Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, KT16 0LF

Actual salary £12,831.50 - £13,281.50 (FTE £25,663 - £26,563)( inclusive of allowances)

20 hours per week, Wednesday – Thursday 9.00pm to 7.00am

Permanent

January 5, 2026

Job Title: Waking Night Assistant Childcare Officer

Location: Meath, a Speech and Language UK school, Ottershaw, Near Woking, Surrey

Contract: Permanent, Part – Time, Term time only, all holidays paid

Working pattern: 20 hours per week, Wednesday – Thursday 9.00pm to 7.00am

Salary: Actual salary £12,831.50 – £13,281.50 (FTE £25,663 – £26,563)( inclusive of allowances)

This role if for female applicants only *

Role Overview
We are seeking a dedicated Assistant Waking Night Childcare Officer to join our passionate residential team. This role is integral to ensuring the safety, development, and well-being of children during the night.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support children to achieve a restful night’s sleep while maintaining safety.
• Implement and follow children’s Personal Development Plans, including overnight care targets.
• Provide toileting support and assist with specific eating and drinking programs.
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, and other care staff to deliver multidisciplinary care.
• Complete essential tasks such as maintaining cleanliness, preparing resources, and updating night records.
• Contribute to children’s personal and social development programs.
• Adhere to safeguarding policies and maintain a safe, caring environment.

What we are looking for:

• Experience working with children, especially those with special educational needs.
• Good communication skills and a willingness to learn Signed Supported English.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and behavior management principles.
• Qualifications related to childcare or speech and language needs.
• First Aid or Positive Touch training.

About Us
Meath, a Speech and Language UK school, is a day and residential non-maintained primary special school for up to 75 pupils aged 4 to 11 years with complex speech and language challenges. Our most recent Ofsted report (2023) is highly positive about the work of the school and the progress which our children make. ‘Pupils are happy and safe, and they enjoy being in school.

They comment that ‘everyone can have friends here’. Visit our website.

Why Us?

Speech and Language UK is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for children and young people with communication needs. If you’re ready to make a difference in a supportive, mission-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

• Professional growth:
  Comprehensive induction, regular CPD opportunities, and annual salary reviews.
• Health and Well-being: wellbeing days, free flu jabs, mental health first aiders, and access to Perkbox resources.
• Financial perks:
  Pension schemes, life assurance cover, interest-free travel and bike loans.
• Work-life balance:
  Term-time work schedule with all school holidays off.

How to Apply

For an informal discussion about the role or school visits please contact Debbie Hanson at or email debb for more information.

To apply please complete the application form (application pack attached) and send this to School Business Manager at

The Final date to receive applications is 9am on Monday, 5 January 2026
with interviews held later that week depending on candidates’ availability.

* Where a specific gender is stated as essential, gender is considered to be a genuine occupational requirement in accordance to paragraph 1, of schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010 for female or male worker to work with our children.

Accessibility Support:
We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any adjustments or need to apply in a different format, please contact our People Team a and we will be happy to assist you.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we carry out safer recruitment principles, as well as appropriate vetting and verifications on all school staff.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education the successful candidate’s employment is subject to an enhanced DBS and barred list check. All shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online search covering content that is in the public domain.