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eTeach UK Limited; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

LGPS / Teachers Pension scheme

Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan

DiscountForTeachers scheme

Eye tests

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Shaw Education Trust is seeking a caring SEN Support Assistant to join a specialist SEMH school. You will aid pupils with SEMH, SEND, autism and ADHD to access learning, build confidence and achieve outcomes.

Work closely with teachers and pastoral staff to tailor support and promote wellbeing across two campus provisions. The role involves assisting with lessons, interventions and small groups, monitoring progress and collaborating with parents and external professionals to support each

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, autism or ADHD.
• Patience, empathy and resilience in challenging settings.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing.
• Positive and proactive approach to supporting vulnerable learners.

Responsibilities

• Support students in lessons, interventions and structured activities.
• Provide one-to-one and small group support tailored to individual needs.
• Promote positive behaviour, emotional regulation and engagement in learning.
• Create a safe, nurturing and inclusive learning environment.
• Assist teachers with classroom preparation and learning resources.
• Monitor and record student progress, behaviour and wellbeing.
• Collaborate with staff, parents/carers and external professionals.

Job description

We are seeking to appoint a caring, motivated, and resilient Special Educational Needs Support Assistant (SENSA) to join our specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school. This is a rewarding opportunity to support young people with additional needs to access learning, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes. The successful candidate will work closely with teaching and pastoral staff to provide tailored support for students with SEMH needs, autism, ADHD, SEND, and other barriers to learning. You will play a key role in helping students engage positively with education and develop socially, emotionally, and academically.

Key Responsibilities

• Support students in lessons, interventions, and structured activities
• Provide one-to-one and small group support tailored to individual needs
• Promote positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and engagement in learning
• Help create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment
• Support students with social skills, communication, and independence
• Assist teachers with classroom preparation and learning resources
• Monitor and record student progress, behaviour, and wellbeing
• Work collaboratively with staff, parents/carers, and external professionals

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Have experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, autism, ADHD, or behavioural needs
• Be patient, empathetic, and resilient
• Have strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Be able to remain calm and adaptable in challenging situations
• Be committed to safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing
• Have a positive and proactive approach to supporting vulnerable learners

At Portland School, we are dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Our mission is to empower young minds and nurture futures, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. We are a split site school with two provisions to meet different needs, one at Trent Vale one at Blythe Bridge. We have an amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support approximately 140 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. As a specialist school our pupils benefit from smaller class sizes, a more practical curriculum, access to alternative accreditations and a highly trained staff team. Both sites have spacious grounds allowing us to provide outdoor education, with our Blythe Bridge site boasting specialist classrooms for Design and technology, Art and Design, Science, Food technology and PE. At the heart of our school are a set of shared values where our entire school community are supported to develop a sense of Respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Independence, show a Team Approach and look after their own Mental Toughness. All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position. At

Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life.

Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or

leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful. Our

values—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything we

do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of

learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working

together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice

matters, and every learner thrives. We

are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools,

proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury. Our

people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development

through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes,

and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled,

confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster a

culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real

difference. You

will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a

strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has

an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored

learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures. If

you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create

futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team. Together,

let’s make the remarkable happen. We

believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary. Make

a life-changing difference in one of our special schools Our

special schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places to

work. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a wide

range of special educational needs and disabilities to discover their

strengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives. Our

pupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learning

disabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severe

learning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Every

pupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised and

celebrated. By

joining one of our special schools, you will become part of a warm,

compassionate and highly skilled team, united by a shared belief in what every

child and young person can achieve. You will work in a supportive environment

where relationships matter, ideas are welcomed and every role makes an

important contribution. Whether

you join us as a teacher, teaching assistant, healthcare professional or as

part of our administration, facilities or operational teams, you will have the

opportunity to develop your skills, learn from experienced colleagues and build

us and help transform lives, including your own. Shaw

Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or

Support Staff employment:

An

excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)

Support Staff only based on

working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first

day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’

service including Bank Holidays)

Access

to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to

Free

DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive

discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers

from hundreds of the biggest brands.

Free

Eye Tests

Cycle

Access to our Institute of

Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and

flourish in your role and in the Trust. We know our people are the key to our success and so we’re

committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a

rewarding one. Colleagues

within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both

in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the

National Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme

delivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition

Institute.

Experienced

leadership and subject-specific support.Guidance

from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.

Access

to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.

to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional

Advocate.

Access

to a suite of online courses.

Placement

projects within our family of schools. Actual Salary: £19,898 - £20,866

Working hours: 32.5 hours per week - Term Time plus 5 Inset Days (39 weeks total)