About SENse Support
At SENse Support, we empower the exceptional.
We are a specialist alternative education provider supporting neurodivergent and vulnerable children and young people who have experienced significant barriers to education. Many of our students arrive having experienced school trauma, emotionally based school avoidance, exclusion, anxiety, unmet special educational needs, or disrupted educational journeys.
Our practice is unapologetically neuro-affirming, trauma-informed and relational. We believe that all young people can thrive when they feel safe, understood, respected and empowered.
Through our EMPOWER Framework — Empathy, Mindful Communication, Professionalism, Ownership, Wellbeing, Empowerment and Respect — we create learning environments where students and staff can flourish.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Specialist Learning Support Assistant (Level 3) to join our growing Alternative Provision Hub and Outreach Service.
This is a unique and rewarding role combining specialist SEND support, therapeutic education, and community-based outreach. The successful candidate will work both within our Hub and directly with students in their homes and local communities, supporting children and young people who may be unable to access education due to anxiety, trauma, neurodivergence, school avoidance, exclusion, or complex SEND needs.
Working under the guidance of specialist teachers and the SENCO, you will plan and deliver bespoke learning, engagement and personal development sessions on a 1:1 basis, helping students re-engage with education, develop independence, and work towards their EHCP and Individual Learning Plan outcomes.
This role requires a practitioner who is confident working independently, building trusting relationships with students and families, adapting provision responsively, and maintaining professional boundaries whilst working in community and home-based environments.
You will benefit from regular professional supervision, specialist CPD, and ongoing support from our multidisciplinary team, including specialist teachers, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and senior leaders.
We are particularly interested in applicants with significant experience supporting autistic learners and other neurodivergent young people within specialist schools, alternative provisions, outreach services, therapeutic settings or similar environments.
Key Responsibilities
Specialist Student Support
- Provide high-quality 1:1 and small-group support for students with SEND, including Autism, ADHD, sensory processing differences, speech and language needs, attachment differences and SEMH needs.
- Build safe, trusting and therapeutic relationships that support engagement, regulation and learning.
- Use neuro-affirming, trauma-informed and relational approaches, including PACE, Emotion Coaching and co-regulation strategies.
- Promote independence, confidence, self-advocacy and preparation for adulthood skills.
- Support students to achieve outcomes identified within EHCPs, Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) and Positive Behaviour Support Plans (PBSPs).
- Recognise behaviour as communication and respond appropriately using agreed strategies and support plans.
- Act as a Key Person for allocated students where required.
Hub-Based Learning Support
- Work alongside teachers to deliver high-quality Quality First Teaching and personalised provision.
- Lead small-group and individual learning activities under the direction of teaching staff.
- Adapt resources and learning activities to meet individual sensory, communication and learning needs.
- Use visual supports, assistive technology, communication aids and sensory strategies to remove barriers to learning.
- Support literacy, numeracy and personal development across all curriculum areas.
- Maintain calm, predictable and low-arousal learning environments whilst maintaining high aspirations for all learners.
- Contribute to assessment, progress monitoring and evidence gathering.
Outreach & Community-Based Learning
- Deliver planned 1:1 educational, therapeutic and engagement sessions in students’ homes, community venues and other agreed locations.
- Plan learning and engagement activities under the guidance of specialist teachers and the SENCO.
- Support students experiencing barriers to school attendance, including emotionally based school avoidance, anxiety, trauma and complex SEND.
- Deliver personalised programmes that promote engagement, confidence, independence and readiness for learning.
- Support students to access community learning opportunities, enrichment activities and preparation for adulthood experiences.
- Undertake dynamic risk assessments and follow all lone working, safeguarding and health and safety procedures.
- Build positive and professional relationships with parents, carers and external professionals.
- Maintain accurate records of outreach sessions, progress and wellbeing using SENse systems.
Multidisciplinary Working
- Work collaboratively with teachers, Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and other professionals.
- Participate in regular supervision, reflective practice sessions and professional development.
- Contribute observations and evidence towards EHCP reviews, annual reviews and professional meetings.
- Implement specialist recommendations provided by therapists and other professionals.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of SENse’s specialist provision.
Safeguarding, Compliance & Professional Practice
- Safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people at all times.
- Follow all SENse policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, lone working, health and safety, behaviour support and confidentiality.
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using Microsoft 365 and Teams.
- Uphold professional boundaries when working within family homes and community settings.
- Represent SENse Support professionally and positively at all times.
- Demonstrate a commitment to SENse’s neuro-affirming, trauma-informed and relational ethos.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications
- Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or equivalent.
- GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
Experience
- Minimum of two years’ experience supporting children or young people with SEND.
- Significant experience supporting autistic learners and/or other neurodivergent young people.
- Experience working with students presenting with anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties or SEMH needs.
- Experience implementing personalised learning and support programmes.
- Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
Knowledge & Understanding
- Strong understanding of Autism, ADHD and neurodiversity.
- Understanding of trauma-informed and relational practice.
- Understanding of EHCPs and personalised provision.
- Knowledge of sensory processing differences and regulation strategies.
- Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and professional boundaries.
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to work independently and use professional judgement.
- Strong planning, organisational and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to adapt provision responsively to meet individual needs.
- Resilient, reflective and solution-focused approach.
- Commitment to inclusion, equity and neuro-affirming practice.
Other Requirements
- Full UK Driving Licence.
- Access to a vehicle insured for business use.
- Willingness to travel across the local area to deliver outreach provision.
Desirable
- HLTA qualification or equivalent experience.
- Experience working in a specialist school, specialist provision or alternative provision.
- Outreach, home tuition or community-based education experience.
- Training in PACE, Emotion Coaching, Team Teach or equivalent approaches.
- Training in Autism, sensory processing or therapeutic interventions.
- Experience working alongside Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists or Speech and Language Therapists.
- Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and EHCP processes.
- Lived experience of disability, neurodivergence or caring responsibilities.
What We Offer
- A genuinely specialist role supporting some of the most vulnerable young people in education.
- Regular professional supervision and reflective practice.
- Access to Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and specialist teachers.
- Extensive CPD and opportunities for professional development.
- A supportive, values-driven and collaborative team culture.
- The opportunity to help shape and develop an innovative and growing outreach service.
- The chance to make a life-changing difference to children and young people who need it most.
SENse Support is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance, satisfactory references and safer recruitment checks.
Pay: £13.50-£15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
