SEND Teaching Assistant
About the School
A foundation special school serving approximately 225 pupils aged 4 to 18, with a broad spectrum of complex and special educational needs including learning difficulties, ASD diagnoses, sensory needs, anxiety, and mental health support. The school is committed to creating a safe, inclusive environment where learners become confident, independent, and well-prepared for adulthood.
The school offers specialist facilities, such as a sensory/rebound therapy room, immersive learning environments, a life skills hub, a community café for vocational training, and a dedicated art studio, MUGA, ICT suite, and more.
Role Overview
As a SEND TA, you will play a vital role in supporting learners across various phases (Phase 1 – EYFS-style, through to Phase 5 – bespoke post-16 vocational pathways), working alongside teachers and multi-disciplinary teams to deliver the personalised curriculum, help students access their studies, and support them in achieving meaningful progression toward independence.
Key Responsibilities
* Support learning activities across all phases (1–5), adapting materials and pace to match individual needs.
* Assist in delivering the life skills curriculum, vocational learning, and qualifications (e.g., BTECs, NVQs) in Phase 4 and Phase 5.
* Contribute to roles within the community café, sensory room, and other therapeutic environments as required.
* Create a calm, safe, and engaging atmosphere, supporting emotional regulation and communication.
* Work collaboratively with professionals—such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, and youth support workers—to implement strategies effectively.
* Support personal development, play therapy, and extracurricular initiatives (e.g., outdoor learning, enterprise groups, extended school provisions).
* Foster independence, social connection, and confidence in learners within a nurturing environment.
Skills & Attributes
* Experience and empathy in supporting learners with ASD, moderate to severe learning difficulties (MLD/SLD), and communication challenges.
* Strong communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal (e.g., using Makaton or other aids as appropriate).
* Creative adaptability to deliver differentiated tasks across academic and vocational settings.
* Team-oriented, with the ability to work closely with staff, parents/carers, and external professionals.
* Client-centred, encouraging independence, resilience, and emotional well-being.
* Positive demeanour, patient, observant, and supportive of every learner’s abilities and potential.
Why You’ll Love It Here
* You’ll be part of a truly inclusive centre of excellence, proudly rated Outstanding for achievement.
* Access to cutting-edge facilities from a sensory and rebound therapy room to a community café offering NVQ training opportunities and vocational experiences.
* The chance to help shape unique, person-centred pathways from play-based learning in younger phases, through to qualifications and real-world work readiness in older phases.
* Engage with a supportive, multidisciplinary team environment that includes therapists, youth and careers advisors, and external specialists.
* Joining a school whose values centre on respect, high expectations, inclusion, and creative partnerships.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.
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