SEN Support Assistant

Hayle Academy; Hayle; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Hayle Academy in Cornwall is seeking a motivated and caring individual to join our SEN team to support the learning needs of our students. The successful candidate will work under the direction of the Assistant Headteacher (SENDCo) and Deputy SENDCo and will focus on enabling access to a high-quality learning experience for all students.

Responsibilities include supporting individuals and small groups within mainstream classrooms, mentoring a small group of students with SEN, and promoting

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with a range of Special Educational Needs (SEN).
• Ability to identify how to help children make progress.
• Enthusiasm, commitment and initiative in the role.
• Builds positive, caring relationships that motivate children to learn, grow and be confident.
• Demonstrates high standards of classroom practice.
• Works well as part of a team and supports the school's ethos.
• Motivated, passionate and reflective about their work.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals and small groups within mainstream classrooms.
• Act as a key adult and mentor for a small group of students with SEN.
• Promote inclusion and acceptance for all children.

Skills

Experience with SEN

Progress guidance

Enthusiasm and commitment

Relationships and motivation

High standards of practice

Teamwork

Motivated and reflective

Job description

Your Role

We are looking for a motivated and caring individual to join our highly regarded SEN team at Hayle Academy, supporting the learning needs of our students.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about inclusive education and determined to ensure that every student, regardless of background or disadvantage, can access a high-quality learning experience.

Working under the direction of the Assistant Headteacher (SENDCo) and Deputy SENDCo, you will:

• Support individuals and small groups within mainstream classrooms
• Act as a key adult and mentor for a small group of students with SEN
• Promote inclusion and acceptance for all children

About You

• May have experience of supporting children with a range of Special Educational Needs
• Can identify where and how to help children make progress
• Brings enthusiasm, commitment and initiative to the role
• Builds positive, caring relationships that motivates children to learn, grow and be confident
• Demonstrates high standards of classroom practice
• Works well as part of a team and contributes to the ethos of our school
• Is motivated, passionate and reflective about their work

Learning is at the heart of everything we do; the successful applicant will need to have a passion for learning and a determination that all students can learn and achieve to their best potential, regardless of barriers.

Benefits of Working with Us

Hayle Academy is a thriving school with 653 students aged 11-16. Our most recent Ofsted inspection (June 2026) recognised the academy's significant strengths in inclusion, personal development and wellbeing, reflecting our commitment to supporting every child to thrive.. Our vision is to inspire students to dream big, to achieve more, and we are proud to be part of the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust.

This is an exciting time to join Hayle Academy as we seek to become a beacon of excellence in Cornwall. We see our staff as our most important resource with wellbeing at our core, recognised by our 5 Star Well School Award from the Youth Sport Trust. The successful candidate will have our full support in their ongoing career development.

Why join us?

• Be part of a forward-thinking, supportive team
• Contribute to a school that values inclusivity and excellence
• Enjoy a role where your work truly makes a difference every day

As a leading Academy Trust, we are able to offer our staff a range of continued professional development opportunities alongside family friendly policies and access to the Local Government/Teachers Pension Schemes. More on our benefits can be found here.

The closing date for receiving applications is 11.59pm on Sunday 11th October

Interviews to be held on TBC

TPAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application as part of their pre-employment administration. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected'. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Other pre-employment checks will include receipt of two satisfactory references, evidence of right to work in the UK, proof of any relevant qualifications and completion of a health assessment questionnaire.

Safeguarding Information

Candidates are advised that Truro and Penwith Academy Trust operate safer recruitment procedures based on the requirements outlined in: Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025

Statutory guidance from the DfE on Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006

Our recruitment process requires checks including identity, right to work, and an enhanced DBS check with a barred list check for all staff and volunteers. Checks for other roles may include overseas checks for those who have lived abroad, prohibition from teaching checks, and childcare disqualification checks, these will be undertaken for all appropriate roles. This ensures that:

Statutory checks on staff who work with children are complied with in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service requirements for Regulated Activity and are completed prior to starting within the Trust. Please also note: At least one member of the recruitment panel will have successfully completed safer recruitment training through an accredited training provider

Online searchers will be undertaken as part of pre-recruitment checks

Pre-appointment vetting checks

Where appropriate, details of checks will be held in individuals' personnel files. We follow requirements and best practice in retaining copies of and the retention of these checks, and they will be recorded within the single central record for the successful candidate, and in line with our data retention policy for all other candidates. All relevant staff (involved in early years' settings and/or before or after-school care for children under eight) are made aware of the disqualification from childcare guidance and their obligations to disclose to us relevant information that could lead to disqualification.

TPAT complies with the requirements of KCSIE 2025

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2