SEN - Sen Teaching Assistant

Senploy; St. Ives; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

Inspire EHC is seeking a calm, patient SEN Teaching Assistant to support a Year 4 learner in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. You will work with the tutor in a one-to-one setting, helping regulate anxiety, build confidence and create a safe learning environment.

Initial sessions may occur at the family home before moving to a community venue. Responsibilities include monitoring wellbeing, adapting communication, and safeguarding in all activities. DBS checks required.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting primary-aged children or young people with SEND.
• Understanding of anxiety-based school avoidance and barriers to learning.
• Knowledge of autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome or communication and sensory needs.
• A patient, flexible and child-centred approach.
• Strong communication, observation and professional recording skills.
• Ability to travel within the St Ives area and work flexibly across the school week.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside the tutor to provide one-to-one support during curriculum-based sessions.
• Help establish predictable routines and a calm learning environment.
• Support emotional regulation using relational, trauma-informed approaches.
• Respond to tics, speech blocking, fatigue, sensory needs and changes in presentation.
• Encourage communication, confidence, independence and positive engagement.
• Use the learner's interests to support motivation and participation.
• Record engagement, wellbeing and progress clearly for the tutor and team.
• Follow safeguarding, risk assessment and lone-working procedures at all times.

Skills

SEND support

Anxiety awareness

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Tools

DBS Update Service

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant - St Ives, Cambridgeshire

Up to 10 hours per week | Monday to Friday | Start as soon as possible

Inspire EHC is seeking a calm, patient and reliable SEN Teaching Assistant to support a Year 4 learner receiving personalised tuition in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. Working alongside the tutor, you will help the learner feel safe, regulate anxiety, engage positively with learning and develop confidence in a low-pressure community setting.

About the learner and provision

The learner has a confirmed diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome. He is awaiting assessment for autism and ADHD and experiences severe anxiety, frequent tics, speech blocking, fatigue, communication difficulties and challenges with emotional regulation. Tuition will complement his existing outdoor alternative provision. Initial sessions may take place at the family home before moving to a suitable community venue.

SEN Teaching Assistant Key responsibilities

• Work alongside the tutor to provide consistent one-to-one support during curriculum-based sessions.
• Help establish predictable routines and prepare a calm, welcoming learning environment.
• Support emotional regulation using relational, trauma-informed approaches.
• Respond sensitively to tics, speech blocking, fatigue, sensory needs and changes in presentation.
• Encourage communication, confidence, independence and positive engagement without creating unnecessary pressure.
• Use the learner's interests and strengths to support motivation and participation.
• Record engagement, wellbeing and progress clearly, sharing relevant observations with the tutor and wider team.
• Follow safeguarding, risk-assessment and lone-working procedures at all times.

About you

You will be a compassionate and resilient support professional who understands that trust and engagement may need to develop gradually. You will be able to remain calm, follow the lead of the tutor and adapt your communication and expectations to the learner's needs while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.

• Experience supporting primary-aged children or young people with SEND.
• Understanding of anxiety-based school avoidance and barriers to learning.
• Knowledge of autism, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome or communication and sensory needs.
• A patient, flexible and child-centred approach.
• Strong communication, observation and professional recording skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the tutor, family and involved professionals.
• Ability to travel within the St Ives area and work flexibly across the school week.
• An enhanced DBS on the Update Service, or willingness to obtain one, together with satisfactory references and compliance checks.

Inspire EHC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, identity and right-to-work verification and satisfactory references. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates.