Reception Teaching Assistant
Are you passionate about making a difference in a child’s life? Do you believe that every child deserves to thrive, regardless of their past experiences? At Sense Education we are looking for a compassionate, dedicated 1-1 Teaching Assistant to join a vaibrant school and provide tailored support to a child with additional needs. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a nurturing, play-based environment, where children learn predominantly through exploration, creativity, and continuous provision.
What You Will Do:
As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a crucial role in supporting the development of Early Years students. You’ll have the chance to create a safe, supportive, and enriching space where the children can grow emotionally, socially, and academically. You’ll work closely with our passionate team of teachers and staff, ensuring that every moment in the classroom is meaningful and that the children feel confident and empowered to reach their full potential.
- Provide Targeted Support: Work 1-1 or in small groups, providing personalized support to help them engage with their peers and thrive in the classroom. You’ll implement bespoke strategies to manage any challenging behaviour, drawing on your understanding of ACEs and trauma-informed practices.
- Foster a Play-Based Learning Environment: The Reception classroom is rich with opportunities for play-based learning. Your role will be to encourage children to engage in continuous provision, helping them learn through exploration, imagination, and hands-on experiences. You'll guide them as they interact with resources, develop problem-solving skills, and build confidence in a joyful, playful setting.
- Track and Celebrate Progress: Recording and reporting progress will be an essential part of the role. You’ll work with the team to monitor and document the child’s growth, providing insights that will shape their individual learning journey. Your observations will help guide future planning and ensure that the child’s needs are consistently met.
- Collaborate and Inspire: You will be an integral part of the wider teaching team, working together to deliver creative, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences. You'll liaise with parents and guardians to ensure that we are providing the best possible support both inside and outside the classroom.
What We Are Looking For:
- Experience - You will have a strong understanding of working with children who have experienced trauma or adverse childhood experiences, and will be familiar with strategies to support emotional and behavioural needs.
- Behaviour Management Expertise: You will have excellent skills in managing behaviour, using positive reinforcement and tailored approaches to create a calm, structured, and supportive environment.
- A Commitment to Play-Based Learning: You should have a genuine passion for learning through play and will understand the benefits of child-led exploration in a Reception setting.
- Strong Communication and Teamwork: Your ability to communicate clearly with both children and adults will be essential, as you work closely with teachers, parents, and other staff to ensure the child’s needs are met. You will be a collaborative team player, always ready to share ideas and contribute to the success of the class.
- Patience and Empathy: Above all, you will possess a patient, empathetic, and nurturing approach, helping to create an environment where every child feels valued and supported.
Qualifications/Expertience:
- A recognised childcare/ care qualification or equivalent.(NVQ, CACHE, Degree, or equivalent)
- A current DBS that is registered with the update service (if you don’t have an up to date DBS we can assist in applying for one)
- Knowledge or experience working with SEND
- Be reliable, punctual, trustworthy
School hours are 8.30- 3.30
Location - Whitehaven
Role Type: Full time / Part time /Temp - Perm
Pay Rate: £14.60 - £16.90 per hour
We will offer training and support in the position, everyone who works for us is required to complete Safeguarding Training. When you become part of the Sense team we are here to support you with your career. If you are interested in this position then please apply with an up to date CV and we will be in touch. You can find our more about us at www.senseeducation.co.uk
Safeguarding children is an integral part of what we do and we have a stringent safer recruitment process. We undertake checks on all the candidates we work with. As such we require a current Enhanced DBS Disclosure for everyone working in Schools. If you do not have a subscription to the DBS Update Service, you may be required to complete a new DBS application as part of the registration process. If you take a temporary role with Sense Education you will be paid on a weekly basis. All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position but long term. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Pay: £14.60-£16.90 per hour
Work Location: In person
