SEN Teaching assistant

five; Weston-super-Mare; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free DBS

Referral bonus

Mentoring support

Training courses

Job summary

Five Education is seeking a Teaching Assistant for a special school in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. The role involves supporting identified pupils with SEN and/or mental health challenges, including 1:1 and small-group support.

Start date is 12th Aug 2026; pay is negotiable, with PAYE payroll and DBS requirements. Candidates should be emotionally resilient, a strong communicator, and capable of building rapport with young people.

Qualifications

• Right to work in the UK; no sponsorship or Skilled Worker visa.
• Ability to provide two recent references (last 2 years).
• Hold a current DBS check or be willing to apply (Update Service).

Responsibilities

• Assist pupils throughout the day, helping them stay focused and on task.
• Guide pupils when they are struggling and help them become regulated and calm.

Skills

Emotional resilience

Strong communication

Rapport building with young people

Background in youth work/care/mental‑h

Job description

Contact Phone: [phone]

Job Details

• Job Type: Temporary
• Location: Somerset
• Salary: Negotiable
• Start Date: Wed 12th Aug 2026
• Contact Name: Joseph Chambers
• Contact Email: [e-mail]
• Contact Phone: [phone]

Job Description

Five Education are recruiting a Teaching Assistant for a special school in Weston-super-Mare. The role is to support identified pupils with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/ or mental health challenges. This work will be supporting pupils 1:1 or in small groups.

Previous experience in supporting individuals with SEND such as Autism and an ability to manage challenging behaviour is desirable. The right person for this role will be kind, compassionate, patient and resilient.

The Role Will Involve

• Assisting pupils throughout the day, helping them to remain focused and on task.
• Guide the pupils when they are struggling, and help them to become regulated and calm.

Who We're Looking For

• Emotionally resilient and able to stay calm in challenging situations
• Strong communicator with a positive and proactive mindset
• Able to build rapport with young people, particularly those who may struggle to trust adults
• Previous experience isn't essential, but backgrounds in youth work, care, mental health, sport, or support work are valuable

Essential Requirements

Right to work in the UK – we are unable to offer Sponsorship or accept Skilled Worker visas.

Able to provide two recent references (from the last two years).

Hold a current DBS check registered on the Update Service, or be willing to apply for one*

• Please note, if you do not have a Non-Voluntary Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, we will need to help you process a new one at a cost of £62.70. This will be refunded after 20 days of work with us.

What can Five Education offer you?

• Check out our Google reviews for one of the best supply experiences in Bristol! We offer free specialised training in areas such as Team Teach, Makaton, PMLD/SLD Awareness, Autism Awareness, and more
• Free DBS (refunded when you work 20 days)
• Recommending a friend bonus scheme
• Specialist support/ mentoring while you are working

Pay: Five Education operates a PAYE payroll; this is the most transparent way to be paid with no hidden fees such as admin fee or employer's NI. Please note pay rate is for illustration and does include holiday pay.

Vetting: Five Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all of the staff we employ to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo checks including reference checks, TRA checks and will need to have a DBS; there will also be an interview.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as they are currently under-represented at this level.

Contact Joseph on 0117 422 6167 / [e-mail]