SEN Teaching Assistant

SEN Specialist Teaching Assistant Required

Location: Northampton
Job Type: Full-Time - Monday to Friday - 8.30am - 3.30pm (Term Time) 
Start Date: January 2025
Setting: SEN Specialist School
Salary: £85 -£95 per day(Depending on experience) Paid through PAYE - No Hidden Umbrella fee's! 

About the School: Teaching Personnel are supporting a wonderful SEN specialist school. They are a dedicated, inclusive educational institution committed to providing outstanding support for students with special educational needs. They strive to create a nurturing and engaging environment where every student can achieve their fullest potential. We are currently seeking a passionate SEN Teaching Assistant with specific experience in supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to join our team.

The Role: As a SEN Teaching Assistant specializing in Autism support, you will play a crucial role in supporting students with ASD in both group and one-on-one settings. You will work closely with teachers and other staff to adapt learning resources, manage behavior, and provide the personal care necessary to meet each child’s unique needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support children with Autism in various educational activities, using tailored strategies to help them engage and thrive.
• Assist with developing personalized education plans (PEPs) that address each child's specific needs and abilities.
• Help to manage sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, and other autism-related characteristics.
• Promote a calm, structured environment, recognizing the importance of routine for many children with autism.
• Provide personal care, including assisting with toileting and hygiene needs, as necessary.
• Monitor and manage challenging behaviors with a calm, empathetic approach, ensuring a safe and supportive learning space.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with students, fostering a sense of security and confidence in the school environment.
• Collaborate with teachers, parents, and external therapists to provide consistent support and feedback on each child’s progress.

About You:

The ideal candidate for this role is compassionate, patient, and able to remain calm under pressure. Experience working with children with autism and/or other special educational needs is highly valued. Educators should be prepared to engage with a range of autism-specific needs, including but not limited to:

• Communication Challenges: Students may use non-verbal communication methods such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) or Makaton.
• Sensory Sensitivities: Students may experience hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, or other environmental stimuli.
• Repetitive Behaviors: Some students may exhibit repetitive movements or behaviors that require understanding and structured support.
• Emotional Regulation: Many students with autism may experience difficulty regulating their emotions, particularly in new or overstimulating environments.

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience supporting children with Autism and other SEN in an educational setting.
• Familiarity with autism-specific support strategies, including sensory tools, communication aids, and structured learning environments.
• The ability to remain calm, patient, and positive when faced with challenging behavior.
• Comfortable with providing personal care, including toileting and hygiene assistance.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work as part of a collaborative team.

If you are passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children with Autism, we would love to hear from you.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.