SEND Teaching Assistant

We are looking for a promising and motivated SEND Teaching Assistant who wants to build a long-term career supporting children and young people.

This is a development opportunity for an emerging candidate with the right values, natural ability and commitment to learn. You may be an experienced support worker, graduate, youth worker, mentor, sports coach, childcare practitioner or someone looking to begin a career in education.

You do not need to arrive knowing everything. We will provide a strong training package, regular guidance and opportunities to gain relevant qualifications. In return, we need someone dependable, resilient and committed to developing with us as our provision continues to grow.

About the provision

You will work in a specialist Alternative Provision supporting learners who may have:

• Special educational needs and disabilities.
• Autism or ADHD.
• Social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Anxiety or emotionally based school avoidance.
• Difficulties regulating their emotions or behaviour.
• Gaps in English, maths and wider learning.
• Low confidence or previous negative experiences of education.
• Poor attendance or difficulties remaining in lessons.

Our learners need adults who are patient, consistent and ambitious for them. You must be able to build trust while maintaining clear professional boundaries and high expectations.

Key responsibilitiesClassroom support

You will:

• Support teachers and tutors during English, maths and wider curriculum sessions.
• Work with learners individually and in small groups.
• Help learners understand instructions and complete tasks.
• Adapt resources and explanations to meet individual SEND needs.
• Encourage learners to become increasingly independent.
• Help learners develop confidence, resilience and a positive attitude towards education.
• Support learners with transitions between lessons, activities and different areas of the provision.
• Prepare learning resources and help maintain an organised learning environment.
• Provide feedback to teaching staff about learners’ engagement and progress.

English, maths and interventions

You will:

• Provide targeted support during English and maths lessons.
• Lead structured one-to-one and small-group interventions.
• Deliver reading, spelling, writing, communication and numeracy activities.
• Use assessment information to identify gaps and plan appropriate support.
• Help learners practise and secure important foundational skills.
• Record attendance, participation and progress within intervention sessions.
• Provide clear feedback and recommend appropriate next steps.
• Support learners working towards Functional Skills or GCSE qualifications where appropriate.
• Make learning relevant to learners’ interests, everyday lives and future goals.

Behaviour and emotional regulation

You will:

• Develop positive and professional relationships with learners.
• Apply the provision’s behaviour policy calmly, fairly and consistently.
• Recognise potential triggers and use agreed strategies before behaviour escalates.
• Support learners to regulate their emotions and make safer choices.
• Use appropriate de-escalation and restorative approaches.
• Help learners reflect on incidents and understand the impact of their decisions.
• Support learners who leave or struggle to enter lessons.
• Use agreed strategies to help learners settle, regulate and return to class.
• Avoid creating unnecessary dependency by helping learners develop their own coping strategies.
• Maintain high expectations while recognising that behaviour can communicate an unmet need.
• Seek support promptly when a situation is beyond the limits of your role or training.

Attendance and engagement

You will:

• Support learners to work towards and maintain 100% attendance wherever possible.
• Welcome learners positively and help them begin the day successfully.
• Identify emerging barriers to attendance or punctuality.
• Work with staff, learners and families to address these barriers.
• Celebrate strong attendance, punctuality and improvements.
• Maintain accurate records and communicate concerns promptly.
• Encourage learners to understand the link between attendance, achievement and future opportunities.
• Support agreed reintegration and return-to-learning plans following absence.

Relationships with learners and families

You will:

• Build strong, respectful and professional relationships with students.
• Communicate positively with parents and carers, within the responsibilities of the role.
• Share successes and progress as well as concerns.
• Listen carefully to pupil and parent voice.
• Work alongside families to encourage attendance, engagement and positive behaviour.
• Maintain confidentiality and clear professional boundaries.
• Communicate any significant concerns to the appropriate member of staff.
• Work collaboratively with schools and other professionals when required.

Safeguarding and professional responsibilities

You will:

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of every learner.
• Remain professionally curious and recognise possible indicators of harm.
• Report concerns immediately through the provision’s safeguarding procedures.
• Maintain accurate, factual and timely records.
• Follow all policies relating to safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, health and safety, equality and confidentiality.
• Attend staff meetings, supervision, INSET training and professional-development activities.
• Work flexibly and contribute positively to the wider life of the provision.
• Reflect on feedback and take responsibility for improving your practice.

Essential qualities

We are looking for someone who:

• Genuinely cares about improving outcomes for young people.
• Is interested in developing a career in SEND or Alternative Provision.
• Can build trust with learners who may be reluctant to engage with adults.
• Is calm, patient and emotionally resilient.
• Can remain professional when faced with challenging behaviour.
• Is firm, fair and consistent.
• Communicates clearly and respectfully.
• Is reliable, punctual and well-organised.
• Can follow instructions while also showing appropriate initiative.
• Works well within a busy, fast-paced team.
• Is willing to learn from feedback and supervision.
• Understands the importance of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Believes young people can achieve regardless of their previous experiences.
• Is committed to growing with the organisation.

Applicants should hold suitable English and maths qualifications and meet the entry requirements of the relevant training provider. GCSE English and maths at Grade 4/C or above, or recognised Level 2 equivalents, would be advantageous.

Desirable experience

It would be helpful, although not essential, if you have:

• Experience working with children or young people.
• Experience in education, youth work, mentoring, childcare, sports or care.
• Experience supporting autism, ADHD, SEND or SEMH needs.
• Experience delivering interventions or small-group activities.
• An understanding of behaviour-management and de-escalation strategies.
• Knowledge of phonics, literacy or numeracy interventions.
• Experience communicating with parents and carers.
• Safeguarding, first-aid or mental-health training.
• An additional skill such as sports, cooking, art, music, digital learning or practical activities.

Training and career development

The successful candidate will receive a structured development package, which may include:

• A Level 3 SEND Teaching Assistant course.
• A Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant course for an eligible candidate who is ready for higher-level study.
• Safeguarding and child-protection training.
• Autism, ADHD, SEND and SEMH training.
• Behaviour-management and de-escalation training.
• Trauma-informed and therapeutic-practice training.
• Training in intervention delivery, assessment and progress recording.
• Online courses covering the essential knowledge required to work effectively in Alternative Provision.
• Regular supervision, coaching, observations and constructive feedback.
• Opportunities to take on greater responsibility as your confidence and skills develop.
• Potential progression into a senior teaching assistant, intervention lead, behaviour role, tutor or other specialist position.

For an exceptional candidate who demonstrates commitment and long-term potential, there may also be an opportunity to explore enrolment on a relevant youth work degree pathway, subject to eligibility, funding and organisational approval.

Training opportunities are subject to successful completion of any probationary period, course-entry requirements, provider availability and continued satisfactory performance.

Working year

The role is for 35 hours per week and includes:

• 38 weeks supporting learners during the teaching year.
• Five INSET and staff-development days.
• Five additional contact days to help prepare the provision, classrooms, resources and learner-support arrangements for the academic year.

What we offer

• A salary of £19,110 per year.
• A supportive and experienced team.
• A comprehensive online and workplace training package.
• Funded development opportunities, subject to eligibility.
• Small-group and personalised work with learners.
• Regular coaching, supervision and professional feedback.
• Genuine opportunities to progress as the organisation grows.
• A varied role combining academic, behavioural and pastoral support.
• The opportunity to make a visible difference to young people and their families.

Safer recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to safer-recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, identity and qualification checks, a full employment-history review and satisfactory professional references.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement answering the following questions:

• Why do you want to work with young people with SEND?
• What experience or personal qualities would help you succeed in Alternative Provision?
• How would you support a learner who refused to enter or return to class?
• How would you help a young person improve their attendance?
• How would you build a positive relationship with a learner and their family?
• What would you like your career to look like over the next three years?

Pay: £19,110.00 per year

Work Location: In person