Graduate Sen Teaching Assistant - Chester

Kpi Recruiting Ltd; Chester; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

KPI Recruiting Ltd is seeking a Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant for a specialist SEN school in Chester. Start from September 2026, a full-time, long-term role with Monday to Friday work in a supportive SEND environment.

You will support pupils with SEN, including autism and additional learning needs, providing 1:1 and small-group assistance to help develop academic and social skills.

Qualifications

• Degree at least 2:1/1st class (or 2:2 with strong SEN motivation)
• Experience supporting children or young people with SEN
• Experience with autism and/or additional learning needs
• Genuine passion for supporting children in SEN environments
• Patience, empathy and emotional resilience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build positive relationships and maintain a calm, consistent approach
• Willingness to learn and develop professionally
• Right to work in the UK on a full-time basis

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated 1:1 support for individual pupils
• Support children with autism and additional learning needs
• Help pupils develop academic, communication and social skills
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Help pupils build confidence, resilience and independence
• Adapt activities and resources to individual needs
• Support pupils with communication difficulties
• Encourage positive social interaction
• Work closely with teachers to understand pupil needs
• Support pupils who may display challenging behaviours
• Provide reassurance, encouragement and consistent support
• Maintain a calm, structured learning environment

Skills

Patience

Empathy

Emotional resilience

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork

Calm demeanor

Willingness to learn

Education

Bachelor degree (2:1/2:2/First)

Job description

Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant – Chester

Full-Time | Long-Term Position |

Do You Have SEN Experience and Want to Make a Meaningful Difference?

Are you a graduate with previous experience working with children or young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and looking to take the next step in your career?

A specialist SEN school in Chester (CH1 3DR) is seeking a caring, patient and resilient Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant to join their team from September 2026.

What’s In It for You:

• A full-time Monday - Friday position
• Term-time working (Earning £500 - £560 per week)
• A long-term opportunity within a supportive SEND school
• Guidance and mentoring from experienced teachers
• Practical experience working with children
• Opportunities to support pupils on a 1:1 and small-group basis
• Experience working with pupils with SEND and additional learning needs
• The opportunity to see different teaching approaches in practice
• Valuable experience for future PGCE, SCITT, School Direct and other teacher training applications
• A supportive team environment where you can develop professionally

This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate who already has experience supporting pupils with additional needs and wants to develop their skills further within a specialist educational environment.

The school supports children and young people with autism, additional learning difficulties and behaviours that can present challenges, providing highly personalised education and support based around each pupil's individual needs.

If you're considering a future career in teaching, special educational needs, educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counselling or another child-focused profession, this role offers valuable hands‑on experience within a specialist setting.

The Role

As a Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant, you'll provide personalised support to pupils who require additional assistance to access their education, develop their skills and achieve their individual potential.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing dedicated 1:1 support for individual pupils
• Supporting children & young people with autism and additional learning needs
• Helping pupils develop their academic, communication and social skills
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Helping pupils develop confidence, resilience and independence
• Adapting activities and resources to meet individual needs
• Supporting pupils with communication difficulties
• Encouraging positive social interaction
• Working closely with teachers to understand individual pupil needs
• Supporting pupils who may display challenging behaviours
• Providing reassurance, encouragement and consistent support
• Helping maintain a calm, structured and positive learning environment

Every pupil will have their own strengths, needs and individual learning journey. You'll be expected to build positive relationships, understand each pupil as an individual and adapt your approach accordingly.

What We’re Looking For

Previous SEN experience is essential.

We're looking for graduates who have already gained experience supporting children or young people with additional needs and who are passionate about developing a career within specialist education.

You'll ideally have:

• A First Class, 2:1 or 2:2 degree
• Previous experience working with children or young people with SEN
• Experience supporting pupils with autism and/or additional learning needs
• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people
• Patience, empathy and emotional resilience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to build positive and trusting relationships
• A calm and consistent approach
• The ability to remain composed when responding to challenging situations
• A willingness to learn and develop professionally
• The ability to work effectively as part of a wider team
• A genuine interest in developing a career within SEN or specialist education
• The right to work in the UK on a full-time basis

Previous experience within a specialist school, SEN provision, residential setting, care environment, youth work, mentoring or similar role would be highly beneficial.

Most importantly, you'll need to demonstrate genuine patience, resilience, compassion and commitment to supporting pupils with additional needs.

Experience That Can Shape Your Career

This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate who already has SEN experience and wants to build on that foundation within a specialist school.

You'll gain valuable first-hand experience supporting pupils with complex and individual needs while learning from experienced education and specialist professionals.

The experience you gain could strengthen future applications for:

• Teacher training
• SEN teaching roles
• Educational psychology
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Behaviour support
• Other child-centred and therapeutic professions

If you're a graduate with previous SEN experience who wants to take the next step in your career and make a genuine difference to young people's lives, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.