SEN Teaching Assistant

Truro and Penwith Academy Trust; Penzance; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Newlyn School is seeking a compassionate SEN Teaching Assistant to support pupils with educational, social, and physical needs. You will work closely with teachers and the SENCO to deliver activities and assist individuals or groups within a mainstream setting or ARB.

The role emphasizes safeguarding, inclusive education, and reliable teamwork, with responsibilities including assisting with mobility, personal care, and contributing to progress tracking and IEPs.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English grade 4/C or above, or equivalent.
• TQUK Level 2 or equivalent (e.g. Certificate in SEN and Disability).
• Experience working with children; strong organisational and ICT skills.

Responsibilities

• Pupil Support: Establish inclusive relationships to build self-esteem, social integration, and independence.
• Learning Assistance: Guide pupils through curriculum tasks and adapt activities to meet IEPs.
• Classroom & Resource Management: Prepare resources, displays, and monitor stock.
• Progress Tracking: Monitor progress, wellbeing, and IEP targets; report to teachers/SENCO.
• Physical & Personal Care Support: Assist with mobility, personal care, and behaviour strategies.
• School Life: Supervise playgrounds, accompany trips, and assist with first aid and admin tasks.

Skills

Strong communication

Listening skills

Time management

Prioritisation under deadlines

Education

GCSE Maths and English 4/C

TQUK Level 2 or equivalent

Tools

ICT skills

Job description

Your Role

Newlyn School is seeking a compassionate, dedicated, and proactive SEN Teaching Assistant to join our team. In this role, you will play a vital part in supporting the educational, social, and physical needs of our pupils, ensuring every child receives the tailored care and assistance required to thrive in school.

Working closely with classroom teachers and the SENCO, you will help deliver class activities, work with individuals or small groups, and support pupils with specific special educational needs within a mainstream setting or an Area Resource Base (ARB).

Key Responsibilities

• Pupil Support: Establish encouraging, inclusive relationships with children to build self-esteem, support social integration, and foster independence.
• Learning Assistance: Guide individual pupils and small groups through curriculum tasks, adapting activities as directed by the teacher to help meet learning objectives and Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Classroom & Resource Management: Help prepare and maintain learning resources, classroom displays, and equipment, while supporting stock monitoring and inventory checks.
• Progress Tracking: Monitor and record children's progress, general well-being, and IEP targets, providing key updates and feedback to teachers and the SENCO.
• Physical & Personal Care Support: Assist with mobility needs (including safe lifting/wheelchair protocols if required), personal care needs, and emotional/behavioural strategies in line with school guidance.
• School Life: Assist with playground supervision during lunch and breaks, accompany pupils on educational trips, and support basic first aid and administrative tasks as needed.

Essential Criteria

• Qualifications: Good literacy and numeracy skills (GCSE Maths and English grade 4/C or above, or equivalent). Qualified to TQUK Level 2 or equivalent (such as a Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability).
• Experience: Experience working with children, along with effective organisational, administrative, and ICT skills.
• Key Skills: Strong communication and listening skills, efficient time management, and the ability to prioritise tasks and work under deadlines.
• Personal Attributes: Patient, kind, calm, empathetic, and a reliable team player who displays trust and integrity.
• Safeguarding & Inclusion: A strong commitment to child protection, safeguarding, equal opportunities, and inclusive education.

Desirable Criteria

• Completion of the DfES Induction for Teaching Assistants, CLANSA, or Cornwall Certificate in SEN.
• Direct experience working with children within a school setting.
• First Aid qualification.

Benefits of Working with Us

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 and time for receiving applications is Sunday 1st November 2026 11pm.

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