SEN Teaching Assistant

SENDhelp; Crawley; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive PAYE pay (no umbrella)

Dedicated SENDhelp consultant

Interview preparation & ongoingSupport

Professional development & training

Onboarding & compliance assistance

Job summary

SENDhelp is seeking an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant for an all-ages specialist school near Crawley. The role supports pupils aged 5–19 with diverse SEN, with on-site work Monday to Friday 8:30–15:30.

Applicants must have direct SEN experience in a UK setting and hold a valid driving licence with reliable vehicle access, as transport is essential. You will work with teachers, therapists and support staff to deliver one‑to‑one and small‑group support and help pupils access lessons in a calm,

Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting children or young people with SEN in a UK school or similar setting.
• Able to drive and have reliable access to a vehicle.
• Willing to work full‑time, termly hours 8:30–15:30.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEN across learning, communication, sensory and behavioural needs.
• Provide one‑to‑one and small‑group learning support.
• Help pupils access lessons and structured activities.
• Adapt resources for different learning and communication needs.
• Use visual aids, communication systems and sensory strategies.
• Record pupil observations and progress.
• Maintain a calm, safe and structured learning environment.

Skills

Driving licence

SEN experience

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant (BENL601) Crawley, England

SEN Teaching Assistant – Crawley

SENDhelp is recruiting an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant for an all-ages specialist school near Crawley.

The school supports children and young people aged 5–19 with a wide range of special educational needs. Due to the school’s remote location and the lack of suitable public transport, applicants must be able to drive and have reliable access to a vehicle.

Candidates must also have direct experience supporting children or young people with SEN in a UK school or a similar formal education, care or support setting.

Role: SEN Teaching Assistant

Age range: 5–19

Working pattern: Full‑time, Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 15:30

Essential: Full driving licence and reliable access to a vehicle

About the role

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will support pupils with a broad range of learning, communication, sensory and behavioural needs.

These needs may include autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, communication needs and behaviours that may challenge.

The school supports pupils across primary, secondary and post‑16 education. Experience with any age group will be considered, provided you have relevant experience supporting children or young people with special educational needs.

Depending on your background, you may support an individual pupil, work with a small group or assist the wider classroom team.

What you will be doing

Supporting pupils with autism, MLD, SLD or PMLD

Providing one‑to‑one and small‑group learning support

Helping pupils access lessons and structured activities

Adapting resources for different learning and communication needs

Using visual aids, communication systems and sensory strategies

Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour

Following EHCP targets and individual support plans

Encouraging communication, independence and social development

Working closely with teachers, therapists and other support staff

Recording pupil observations and progress

Supporting personal care or mobility where required

Maintaining a calm, safe and structured learning environment

To be considered for this SEN Teaching Assistant role, you must have direct experience supporting children or young people with special educational needs.

Suitable experience may have been gained in:

A mainstream school supporting pupils with additional needs

An alternative provision

A formal education, care or support setting

Experience within a UK school is strongly preferred. Candidates from similar professional settings may also be considered where their experience involves meaningful responsibility for supporting children or young people with SEND.

General experience with children without direct SEN responsibility will not be sufficient for this vacancy.

Driving requirement

The school is based in a remote location outside the practical reach of public transport.

Applicants must:

Hold a valid driving licence

Have reliable access to a vehicle

Be able to travel consistently to the school near Crawley each working day

Please do not apply if you would need to rely on public transport to reach the school.

What we are looking for

The successful candidate will:

Have practical experience supporting children or young people with SEN

Be confident working with a range of needs and abilities

Remain calm and consistent during challenging situations

Understand the importance of routines, boundaries and clear communication

Be patient, resilient and emotionally reliable

Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team

Be willing to assist with personal care where required

Be committed to safeguarding and promoting pupil welfare

Experience with non‑verbal pupils, sensory needs, challenging behaviour, personal care or specialist communication systems would be particularly valuable.

Why consider this opportunity?

Work within an all‑ages specialist school

Support pupils with a wide range of special educational needs

Gain experience across primary, secondary or post‑16 education

Work alongside teachers, therapists and experienced support staff

Develop your specialist communication and sensory‑support skills

Take on a meaningful role supporting pupils’ learning and independence

Secure a consistent, full‑time placement near Crawley

What SENDhelp offers

Competitive PAYE pay with no umbrella‑company deductions

A dedicated consultant throughout your placement

Interview preparation and ongoing support

Access to relevant professional development and training

Support with registration, compliance and onboarding

Opportunities with SENDhelp partner schools across Crawley and the surrounding areas

This opportunity would suit an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant who can drive, has reliable access to a vehicle and is confident supporting pupils with a variety of additional needs.

As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct.

All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy.

SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.