DescriptionEmployerLocation
Avicenna School is seeking a dedicated and compassionate full time SEND Teaching Assistant with significant experience supporting pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs alongside a broader range of special educational needs and disabilities.
Working closely with our SENDCo and class teachers, you will deliver high-quality in-class support, lead small-group interventions, and offer targeted 1:1 support to pupils across Years 7 to 9. You will play a central role in helping our pupils to regulate, engage with learning, and thrive personally, academically and spiritually within an Islamic-ethos environment.
About Avicenna School
Avicenna is a small, ambitious and growing independent Islamic secondary school in Leicester serving pupils in Years 7 to 9. We hold Cambridge International School status, and our work is shaped by our THRIVE values — Trust, Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Vision and Excellence.
We are deeply committed to inclusion and to ensuring every pupil, including those with SEND, has access to a rigorous academic curriculum within a nurturing, faith-rooted community. Our small class sizes allow us to know every child individually and to deliver genuinely personalised support.
Who we are looking for
- Demonstrable experience supporting secondary-aged pupils with SEMH needs and a range of SEND profiles (e.g. ASD, ADHD, anxiety, attachment-related needs, specific learning difficulties)
- Confidence using de-escalation, emotional regulation and trauma-informed approaches
- A track record of delivering effective 1:1 and small-group interventions
- A relevant qualification — Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (CACHE/NCFE), HLTA status, or equivalent experience
- GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent)
- A genuine respect for, and willingness to uphold, the Islamic ethos of the school
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with pupils, families and colleagues
What we offer
- A welcoming, values-driven school community where staff are known and valued
- Small class sizes and a manageable caseload that enables genuine impact
- Bespoke CPD, including SEND-specific training and safeguarding development
- Free on-site parking and a supportive, collaborative staff team
- The opportunity to shape SEND provision in a young and growing school
Right to work in the UK
This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Successful candidates will be required to provide original documentation evidencing their right to work prior to commencing employment.
Safeguarding
Avicenna School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, alongside other pre-employment checks including identity, qualifications, right to work, references, and online searches, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check including a check of the children's barred list.
*We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is appointed.*
Safeguarding Statement
Avicenna School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references, identity verification, right to work checks, and any other pre-employment checks deemed necessary in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE 2024) and the school’s Safer Recruitment Policy.
All shortlisted candidates will be subject to online searches as part of our due diligence checks, in line with KCSIE 2024 requirements.