Job Title: SEN Teaching Assistant
Location: South Gloucestershire
Contract Type: Flexible / Supply
SEN Teaching Assistant - South Gloucestershire
Tradewind Recruitment work in partnership with several specialist SEN schools across South Gloucestershire to recruit an experienced SEN Teaching Assistants. These are flexible supply roles, with the opportunity to work across a variety of specialist settings in the local area. For the right SEN Teaching Assistants, these schools can offer long term roles with the view to become permanent team members!
These schools support children and young people with complex needs, including SEMH, autism, ADHD, speech and language needs and associated learning difficulties. Pupils may present with high levels of dysregulation, emotionally driven behaviour, sensory needs and difficulties with trust, communication and engagement. Consistency, patience and strong relational practice are central to the school's approaches.
The Role:
As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will:
1. Support pupils on a 1:1 or small group basis, both in and out of the classroom
2. Help students to regulate emotions, manage behaviour, and access learning safely
3. Use clear boundaries, routines and de-escalation strategies to support behaviour
4. Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils who may have experienced trauma
5. Support learning through practical, therapeutic and highly differentiated activities
6. Work closely with teachers, therapists and pastoral staff to ensure consistency
The role requires resilience, emotional intelligence and confidence working with pupils whose behaviour can at times be challenging, unpredictable, or withdrawn. You will also need to be flexible, adapt well to change and hit the ground running as you may work across multiple schools in the same week!
Requirements:
7. Essential: Previous experience as a Teaching Assistant or child related role
8. Experience supporting pupils with SEMH and complex behavioural needs
9. A calm, empathetic, and firm approach to behaviour support
10. Ability to remain professional and consistent in emotionally demanding situations
11. Flexibility to work across multiple specialist settings if required
About Tradewind Recruitment:
Tradewind Recruitment is one of the UK's leading education recruitment agencies, specialising in matching skilled professionals with schools that truly fit their experience and values. We understand the demands of SEN education and work closely with our candidates to provide the right opportunities, support and flexibility.
Why Join Tradewind?
At Tradewind, we don't just place candidates - we champion them. Here's what you can expect:
12. Your income matters: We'll always secure the best rate for your skills
13. Your development matters: 2,500+ FREE CPD courses via The National College
14. Your flexibility matters: Roles that fit your lifestyle and goals
15. Your wellbeing matters: Sunday Times Top 100 Employer four years running
16. Your values matter: We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and truly inclusive
If you are an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant looking for flexible work in South Gloucestershire, supporting pupils who need strong, consistent and compassionate adults around them, we would love to hear from you.