Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant

Teaching Personnel; Guildford; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Teaching Personnel in Guildford is seeking a Psychology graduate to join a network of schools as a SEN Teaching Assistant. This full-time, term-time role offers daily pay between £85–£100, and a September 2026 start date.

You will support pupils with additional needs, including autism and ADHD, delivering 1:1 and small-group help, and helping pupils build confidence, independence and social skills under the guidance of teachers and SEN professionals.

Qualifications

• A 2:1 or above Psychology degree (or equivalent).
• Genuine interest in supporting children with additional needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Patience, empathy and resilience.
• Proactive and positive attitude.
• Ability to remain calm and consistent in challenging situations.
• Previous experience with children or young people is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1 and small-group support to pupils.
• Supporting children with their academic and personal development.
• Helping pupils develop confidence, independence and social skills.
• Implementing strategies recommended by teachers and SEN professionals.
• Supporting positive behaviour and emotional regulation.
• Building trusting relationships with pupils and acting as a positive role model.
• Working closely with teachers, SENCOs and other professionals.
• Helping to create an inclusive and supportive classroom environment.

Skills

Communication skills

Patience

Empathy

Resilience

Relationship-building

Education

2:1 Psychology degree

Job description

Location: Guildford, Surrey
Salary: £85–£100 per day, depending on experience
Contract: Full-time, term-time
Start date: September 2026

Are you a Psychology graduate looking to build valuable experience working with children and young people with special educational needs?

We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate and resilient Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistants to join schools across Guildford. This is an excellent opportunity for graduates considering a career in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Child Psychology, SEN teaching, Speech and Language Therapy or other child-focused professions.

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with pupils who may have additional needs such as autism, ADHD, SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health), learning difficulties or communication needs.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing 1:1 and small-group support to pupils
• Supporting children with their academic and personal development
• Helping pupils develop confidence, independence and social skills
• Implementing strategies recommended by teachers and SEN professionals
• Supporting positive behaviour and emotional regulation
• Building trusting relationships with pupils and acting as a positive role model
• Working closely with teachers, SENCOs and other professionals
• Helping to create an inclusive and supportive classroom environment

Your Psychology degree will give you a strong foundation for understanding child development, behaviour, cognition and emotional wellbeing. We are particularly interested in graduates who want to gain practical experience before pursuing a career in psychology or education.

You do not need previous SEN experience. What matters most is your enthusiasm for working with children, willingness to learn and ability to build positive relationships.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A 2:1 or above Psychology degree (or equivalent)
• A genuine interest in supporting children with additional needs
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Patience, empathy and resilience
• A proactive and positive attitude
• The ability to remain calm and consistent in challenging situations
• Previous experience working with children or young people is desirable but not essential

• Hands-on experience working with children with SEN
• Valuable insight into educational and developmental psychology
• Support and guidance from experienced education professionals
• Opportunities to develop behaviour-management and communication skills
• A strong foundation for future applications to Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, teacher training and other child-focused careers
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to a young person's education and wellbeing

If you're a Psychology graduate in Guildford who wants to turn your academic knowledge into meaningful, practical experience, we'd love to hear from you.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs' 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.
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