SEND Teaching Assistant – Specialist School

📍 Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
💰 Pay: £102.56 per day
⏰ Hours: 8:45am – 3:15pm
📅 Start Date: ASAP
📋 Contract: Full-Time, Monday–Friday

TeacherActive is working closely with a fantastic specialist SEND school in Bury St Edmunds that is looking for a caring, enthusiastic and resilient SEND Teaching Assistant to join their team.

The school supports children and young people with a wide range of additional and complex needs, including:

• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD).
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD).
• Autism (ASD).
• Complex physical and medical needs.
• Sensory and communication needs.
• Complex behavioural needs.

This is a very hands-on and rewarding position where you will play an important role in helping pupils access education, develop their independence and have positive experiences at school.

Your Responsibilities

As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide 1:1 and small-group support to pupils with SLD, PMLD, autism and complex needs.
• Work alongside the class teacher to help pupils access learning at a level appropriate to their individual needs.
• Support pupils with sensory-based and practical learning activities.
• Adapt activities and resources for pupils with significant learning and communication difficulties.
• Support pupils to develop their communication, social interaction and engagement skills.
• Use a range of communication strategies and aids depending on the individual pupil.
• Encourage pupils to develop their independence and practical life skills.
• Support pupils with "real-life" learning activities designed to prepare them for greater independence.
• Help pupils with mobility and physical needs, where required.
• Provide personal care support where required, always maintaining the pupil's dignity and privacy.
• Support pupils during mealtimes and other daily routines where appropriate.
• Help pupils regulate their emotions and provide a calm, consistent and reassuring presence.
• Recognise individual behaviours and communication cues and respond appropriately.
• Support pupils with complex behavioural needs using strategies agreed by the school.
• Encourage pupils to participate in lessons, play, sensory activities and wider school experiences.
• Celebrate individual achievements and understand that progress can look very different for every pupil.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, other Teaching Assistants, therapists and SEND professionals.
• Follow pupils' EHCPs and individual support strategies.
• Observe pupils and provide feedback to the class teacher regarding their engagement and progress.
• Maintain high standards of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional conduct.
• Help create a safe, positive and inclusive learning environment where every pupil is supported to achieve their potential.

Who We're Looking For

You don't necessarily need previous school experience. Candidates with backgrounds in care, healthcare, support work, youth work, residential care or working with vulnerable individuals can have highly transferable skills for this position.

We're particularly interested in people who are:

• Patient, caring and empathetic.
• Comfortable providing hands-on support.
• Resilient and able to remain calm in challenging situations.
• Passionate about working with children and young people with additional needs.
• Comfortable supporting pupils with complex learning and physical needs.
• Willing to support with personal care where required.
• Reliable and able to work effectively within a close-knit team.
• Keen to develop their knowledge of SEND, SLD, PMLD and autism.

Previous experience with PMLD, SLD, autism, personal care, sensory needs, Makaton or other communication methods would be particularly beneficial, but isn't essential.

Interested?

Please send me your up-to-date CV or get in touch to discuss the opportunities available in Bury St Edmunds.

📧 bugsy.barclay@teacheractive.com
📞 01245 335 533