Graduate Teaching Assistant

Milk Education; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Milk Education is seeking dedicated Graduate Teaching Assistants to work across SEN schools in Derby. This role offers flexible working with daily hours 8:30am to 3:30pm and an ASAP start, ideal for graduates looking to gain hands-on experience in education, psychology or mental health.

You will support pupils with needs such as autism, ADHD, SEMH, and learning difficulties, delivering targeted 1:1 and small-group sessions while building relationships and promoting positive behaviour.

Qualifications

• An undergraduate degree in psychology, education, criminology, sociology, or a related field.
• Experience with children or young people with SEN is desirable.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build rapport quickly.
• Patient, empathetic, and proactive approach; able to use initiative.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted 1:1 and small-group support for pupils with SEN needs
• Support students in accessing learning activities and achieving targets
• Build positive relationships to support emotional regulation and social development
• Assist with communication, confidence-building, and independence skills
• Promote positive behaviour and implement behaviour-management strategies
• Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, and external professionals to ensure consistent support

Skills

1:1 support

Small-group support

Communication skills

Patience & empathy

Initiative & collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree (e.g. Psychology, Education, Criminology, Sociology)

Job description

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Flexible Working

Hours: 8:30am - 3:30pm

Start Date: ASAP

Milk Education is seeking dedicated and motivated Graduate Teaching Assistants to work across a range of SEN schools in Derby. This is an excellent opportunity for graduates looking to gain hands‑on experience supporting children and young people with additional needs.

This role is ideal for graduates with a passion for education, psychology or mental health who are looking to build a career in teaching, educational psychology, or specialist support roles.

Working across SEN settings, you will support pupils with a range of needs including autism (ASC), ADHD, SEMH, and moderate to complex learning difficulties, helping them to engage positively with education and reach their full potential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide targeted 1:1 and small-group support for pupils with SEN needs
• Support students in accessing learning activities and achieving individual targets
• Build positive, trusting relationships to support emotional regulation and social development
• Assist with communication, confidence‑building, and independence skills
• Promote positive behaviour and implement effective behaviour‑management strategies
• Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, and external professionals to ensure consistent support
• An undergraduate degree (e.g. Psychology, Education, Criminology, Sociology, or a related field)
• Relevant experience working with children or young people with SEN (desirable)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build rapport quickly
• A patient, empathetic, and proactive approach
• Ability to work collaboratively and use initiative when required

Why choose Milk Education?

We're bottled differently here at Milk, with coverage and offices in your local area. We take a whole‑school approach to staffing, culture and school impact, connecting educators with schools that value consistency, wellbeing and community. With Priority Partnerships, enrichment programmes, CPD and our Unbottled and Make Life Kind initiatives, we're rethinking what a recruitment agency can be.

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.

Milk Education is an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.