Teaching Assistant – Specialist SEND Setting
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What you'll do
- Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
- Building strong, trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe and secure
- Adapting learning activities to meet individual needs
- Encouraging inclusion and positive peer interactions
- Supporting social, emotional, and behavioural development
- Providing encouragement and reassurance to build confidence and self-esteem
- Assisting with the use of ICT to support learning
- Observing progress and sharing feedback with teachers and the SENCO
- Supporting behaviour consistently and positively
- Preparing resources and helping maintain an engaging learning environment
- Supporting during breaktimes, structured activities, and educational visits
What they're looking for
- Experience working with children or young people
- Calm, nurturing, and emotionally aware
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Adaptable and able to respond to individual needs
- Interest in SEND
- Work well as part of a team and bring a proactive approach
Nice to have
- Experience in SEND
- Teaching Assistant qualification (Level 2 or equivalent)
Summarised by NextRaise from the employer’s description, which follows in full below.
Full description from employer
Harlow, Essex
Full-Time | Term-Time Only
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Imagine being the person a child looks for when they walk into school.
The one who helps them settle, encourages them to try, and celebrates the small moments that slowly build into something much bigger.
If you believe every child deserves to feel safe, understood, and supported, this could be a truly rewarding opportunity.
The Opportunity
We are working with a nurturing and highly supportive specialist SEND setting in Harlow, looking for a compassionate Teaching Assistant to join their dedicated team.
This is a setting where relationships, patience, and understanding are at the heart of everything. You will play a key role in helping pupils access learning in a way that works for them—supporting not just their academic progress, but their confidence, independence, and emotional wellbeing too.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
- Building strong, trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe and secure
- Adapting learning activities to meet individual needs
- Encouraging inclusion and positive peer interactions
- Supporting social, emotional, and behavioural development
- Providing encouragement and reassurance to build confidence and self-esteem
- Assisting with the use of ICT to support learning
- Observing progress and sharing feedback with teachers and the SENCO
- Supporting behaviour consistently and positively
- Preparing resources and helping maintain an engaging learning environment
- Supporting during breaktimes, structured activities, and educational visits
About You
You don’t need to have all the answers—just the right attitude, patience, and commitment to supporting young people.
You will ideally:
- Have experience working with children or young people
- Be calm, nurturing, and emotionally aware
- Have strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Be adaptable and able to respond to individual needs
- Have an interest in SEND (experience is beneficial but not essential)
- Work well as part of a team and bring a proactive approach
A Teaching Assistant qualification (Level 2 or equivalent) would be desirable, but not essential.
Why This Role?
- A supportive, welcoming team who genuinely care
- A nurturing environment where relationships come first
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day
- A role where no two days are the same—but every day matters
Interested?
If you’ve read this and thought, “this is exactly why I wanted to work in education”, we would love to hear from you.
Parker Smith Inclusion is an ethical SEND recruitment partner. We take the time to understand what matters to you and support you in finding the right setting where you can truly thrive.
Apply today or contact Harry at Parker Smith Inclusion for a confidential conversation.
Company
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