SENDhelp is recruiting an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant for an all-ages specialist school in Croydon.
The school supports children and young people aged 5-19 with a wide range of special educational needs, including autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, communication needs and behaviours that may challenge.
Applicants must have direct experience working with children or young people with SEND. Experience within a UK school is strongly preferred, although relevant experience from another formal care, support or education setting may also be considered.
Role: SEN Teaching Assistant
Location: Croydon
Setting: All-ages specialist SEND school
Age range: 5-19
Working pattern: Full-time, Monday to Friday
Essential: Direct experience supporting children or young people with SEND
Preferred: Previous experience in a UK school
As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will support pupils with a broad range of learning, communication, sensory and behavioural needs.
The school works across primary, secondary and post-16 age groups, so experience with any age range is welcome. You may support pupils one-to-one, work with small groups or assist the wider classroom team, depending on your experience and the needs of the class.
This is a hands-on role for someone who is calm, reliable and confident supporting pupils who may require a highly structured and individualised approach.
Your responsibilities may include:
Supporting pupils with autism, MLD, SLD or PMLD
Providing one-to-one and small-group learning support
Helping pupils access lessons and structured activities
Using visual resources, communication aids and sensory strategies
Supporting pupils with emotional regulation and behaviours that may challenge
Following EHCP targets, individual support plans and behaviour strategies
Encouraging 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 positive learning environment
To be considered for this SEN Teaching Assistant role, you must have direct experience working with children or young people with special educational needs.
Suitable experience may include work within:
A specialist SEND school
A mainstream school supporting pupils with additional needs
An alternative provision
Residential care
Respite care
A formal care or support setting
Youth or community services supporting children with SEND
General classroom experience without meaningful SEND responsibility will not be sufficient for this vacancy.
The successful candidate will:
Have practical experience supporting children or young people with SEND
Be confident supporting a wide range of needs and abilities
Remain calm and consistent when behaviour becomes challenging
Understand the importance of routines, boundaries and clear communication
Be patient, resilient and emotionally reliable
Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
Be comfortable supporting pupils across different age groups
Be able to travel reliably to Croydon 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.
Work within an established specialist school in Croydon
Support pupils across an all-ages provision
Gain experience with a wide range of special educational needs
Work alongside teachers, therapists and experienced support staff
Develop your knowledge of communication and sensory approaches
Build a long-term career in specialist education
Take on a meaningful role supporting pupils' learning and independence
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 Croydon and South London
This opportunity would suit an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant who is confident supporting pupils with a variety of needs and can travel consistently to Croydon.
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.
