SEN Teaching Assistant

SEN Teaching Assistant - Slough SENDhelp is recruiting an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant for an all-ages specialist school in Slough, supporting children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs. The school supports pupils across primary, secondary and post-16 age groups, so applications are welcome from candidates with experience working with any age range. The most important requirement is strong, practical experience supporting children or young people with SEN in the UK. Previous experience within a UK school is strongly preferred. However, candidates with relevant experience from another formal setting may also be considered. Key details • Role: SEN Teaching Assistant • Location: Slough • Setting: All-ages specialist SEN school • Age range: 5-19 • Working pattern: Full-time, Monday to Friday • Essential: UK experience supporting children or young people with special educational needs • Preferred: Previous experience within a UK school About the role As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will support pupils with a broad range of learning, communication, sensory and behavioural needs. The school works with children and young people with different levels of need, which may include autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, communication needs and behaviours that may challenge. You may work one-to-one with an individual pupil, support a small group or assist the wider classroom team. The exact class and age group will depend on your previous experience and where your skills are best suited. What you will be doing Your responsibilities may include: • Supporting pupils with a variety of special educational needs • Providing one-to-one and small-group support • Helping pupils access lessons and structured activities • Using visual resources, communication aids and sensory strategies • Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour • Following individual support plans, EHCP targets and behaviour strategies • Encouraging pupils' communication, independence and social development • Working closely with teachers, therapists and other support staff • Supporting personal care or mobility where required • Maintaining a calm, safe and structured learning environment Essential experience To be considered for this SEN Teaching Assistant role, you must have direct experience supporting children or young people with special educational needs in the UK. Ideally, this experience will have been gained in: • A specialist SEN school • A mainstream school supporting pupils with additional needs • An alternative provision • A formal care, support or residential setting General experience with children without meaningful SEN responsibility will not be sufficient for this particular vacancy. What we are looking for The successful candidate will: • Have practical UK experience supporting children or young people with SEN • Be confident working with pupils who have different communication and learning needs • Remain calm, patient and consistent when behaviour becomes challenging • Understand the importance of routines, boundaries and clear communication • Be reliable, resilient and able to work effectively as part of a team • Be willing to support pupils across different age groups • Be able to travel reliably to Slough each working day • Be committed to safeguarding and promoting pupil welfare Experience with autism, MLD, SLD, PMLD, non-verbal communication, sensory needs or challenging behaviour would be particularly valuable. Personal experience of supporting a family member or someone close to you with special educational needs is desirable and may strengthen your application. However, personal experience alone will not replace the need for relevant professional or formal UK experience. Why consider this opportunity? • Work in an established specialist school in Slough • Support pupils across an all-ages provision • Develop experience with a wide range of special educational needs • Work alongside teachers, therapists and experienced support staff • Build your knowledge of different communication and learning approaches • Take on a meaningful, full-time role supporting pupils' education and independence What SENDhelp offers • Competitive PAYE pay with no umbrella-company deductions • A dedicated consultant throughout your placement • Interview preparation and ongoing support • Access to relevant professional development and training • Support with registration, compliance and onboarding • Opportunities with SENDhelp partner schools across Slough and the surrounding areas This position would suit an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant who has worked with children or young people with additional needs in the UK and is able to travel consistently to Slough. As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct. All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy. SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.