Learning Support Assistant

Empowering Learning; Harlow; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Empowering Learning Ltd are currently recruiting a SEN Teaching Assistant for a SEND school in Harlow. The role supports a small class with Social Emotional Mental Health needs, working with pupils aged 4–16, many non-verbal.

You will assist more than one class across the school, using plain English and adapting materials to individual learners. We seek immediate availability to start, Monday–Friday, with DBS declarations and two references required.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting pupils with Social Emotional Mental Health Needs.
• Experience working with children or young adults with special education needs.
• Ability to commit to working full school hours, 5 days per week.
• Immediate availability to start.
• Willingness to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations.
• Provide 2 professional references covering the last 2 years.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils in a small class setting, ensuring learning is participative and encourages peer learning.
• Assist more than one class, supporting several children across the school.
• Use learner’s own words, language, materials and personal context in lesson planning.
• Break down tasks into smaller steps and build them into the task objective.
• Make both written and spoken information clear, following plain English guidelines.
• Observe what works for a particular learner and what does not.
• Listen closely to what learners say and respond appropriately, avoiding misdirection.

Skills

Experience with SEMH pupils

SEND experience

Full-time availability

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant (Special Educational Needs)

Empowering Learning are currently working with an excellent SEND school in Harlow. They are looking for a Teaching Assistant to join their school as soon as possible. The position will be based within a small class supporting Social Emotional Mental Health Students.

You will be working with children aged between 4 - 16 Years in age, each with statements of special education needs. Most of the children you will be working with have very limited communication skills, and some are completely non‑verbal. You will be assisting more than one class, supporting several children across the school, rather than working 1:1 with any particular child.

To be eligible to apply for this position, you would ideally have experience supporting pupils with Social Emotional Mental Health Needs.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils in a small class setting, ensuring learning is participative and encouraging peer learning.
• Assist more than one class, supporting several children across the school.
• Use learner’s own words, language, materials and personal context in lesson planning.
• Break down tasks into smaller steps and build them into the task objective.
• Make both written and spoken information clear, following plain English guidelines.
• Observe what works for a particular learner and what does not.
• Listen closely to what learners say, respond to the content of what someone is saying and avoid being misled by the style of delivery.
• Be aware of the language you use and of that used by other members of the group, including non‑verbal communication.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience supporting pupils with Social Emotional Mental Health Needs.
• Experience working with children or young adults with special education needs.
• Ability to commit to working full school hours, 5 days per week.
• Immediate availability to start.
• Willingness to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations.
• Provide 2 professional references covering at least the last 2 years.

Empowering Learning Ltd. are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to show this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations in line with Section 115 of the Police Act 1997. You will also be required to provide 2 professional references covering at least the last 2 years, and complete our online application followed by a video or face to face interview. Empowering Learning Ltd is a committed Equal Opportunities Employer and therefore will not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation.

Send your CV to (url removed) or call on (phone number removed).