SEN Teaching Assistant — Barnstaple

SENse Learning; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay £18–£23/hr

Flexible hours

In-home & community sessions

Self-employed status

Referral programme

Job summary

SENse Learning in the UK is hiring SEN Teaching Assistants to provide one-to-one mentoring and learning support for SEND learners in homes, communities, and schools. These self-employed roles offer flexible hours and session planning with clients and schools.

You will work with young people with complex needs, using trauma-informed approaches and a focus on building life skills alongside education; DBS and references are required, with UK-based eligibility.

Qualifications

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs.
• Background: Ideal for Support Workers, LSAs, TAs, Higher-Level TAs, Youth Workers, or related care/education roles.
• Approach: Child-centred, holistic approach with an adaptable, student-centred curriculum.
• Compliance: Enhanced DBS and 2+ professional references.
• Location: UK-based with the right to work in the UK.
• Safeguarding: Knowledge of safeguarding and safe learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children and young people who may have faced challenges in previous education settings.
• Provide one-to-one support in homes and community settings, delivering creative and interest-based activities.
• Support the development of life skills, confidence, and independence.
• Use trauma-informed approaches and flexible strategies to support diverse needs.
• Model and encourage emotional regulation through practice.
• Provide feedback and reflections to track progress and adapt support.

Skills

Mentoring

Trauma-informed

Emotional regulation

Child development

Job description

You can make a difference, support creatively, and work within a more fulfilling and rewarding career.

SENse Learning is offering a unique opportunity for passionate mentors to make a real impact!

You can begin to work in an impact-first role with SENse Learning. Our SEN Teaching Assistant roles allow you to provide one-to-one mentoring and learning support for the most in-need young people, working across a variety of specialisms as an Education Assistant, Education Mentor, and Learning Support Mentor.

Multiple positions are available, hiring is ongoing, and interviews are being arranged as applications are received.

What makes this SEN Teaching Assistant role right for you:

Imagine a role where you can deliver support to a young person, in a way that works for them. Not based in the classroom, but in students’ homes and out in the community, delivering interest-based, holistic sessions of learning set to the needs of the individual.

Mentoring is not limited to academic subjects; it is about building confidence, encouraging emotional regulation, and supporting the development of key life skills alongside education.

The Benefits We Offer Our SEN Teaching Assistant

• Competitive pay: £18 – £23 per hour
• Flexible working: Craft your own schedule with in-person, hybrid, and community-based support opportunities, agreeing session times with parents, carers, or schools
• Flexible hours: Flexible part-time up to full-time hours, arranged in consultation with clients and schools to suit your schedule
• Meaningful work: Support young people who are often excluded or disengaged from traditional education
• Pastoral and Pathways Support: SENse Learning keeps a team around you and the child
• Community and Company Events: Knowledge sharing and resources
• Referral Programme: Get rewarded for successful tutor referrals

At SENse Learning, you will join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to forward-thinking approaches to supporting SEND Learners; be part of a team that believes in shaping a brighter future for every student.

SEN Teaching Assistant Role Requirements

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs (e.g. ASC, ADHD, SEMH, EBSA, trauma, PDA, mental health)
• Background: Ideal for Support Workers, Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), Teaching Assistants (TAs), Higher-Level TAs, Youth Workers, Personal Assistants (PAs), or those with other relevant care or education backgrounds
• Approach: Understanding of how to work in a child-centred, holistic way; you will have the ingenuity and creativity to make the curriculum work in an individual, student-centred way
• Compliance: Enhanced DBS (we can facilitate this if needed) and 2+ professional references
• Location: You must be based in the UK with the right to work in the UK, even for remote / online jobs
• Safeguarding: Knowledge of safeguarding and creating a safe learning environment

The SEN Teaching Assistant Role And Responsibilities

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children and young people who may have faced significant challenges in previous education settings
• Provide one-to-one support in homes and community settings, delivering creative and interest-based activities
• Support the development of life skills, confidence, and independence.
• Use trauma-informed approaches and flexible strategies to support a wide range of additional needs.
• Understand the importance of emotional regulation and implement strategies to model and encourage this.
• Provide feedback and reflections to track progress and adapt support where needed.

At SENse Learning, we are on a mission to raise the standard of education for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), as well as those with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs. We are increasingly supporting children and young people with MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulties), SLD (Severe Learning Difficulties), and PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties). We passionately believe in the transformative power of education, and through bespoke, one-to-one lessons, our dedicated team makes a positive impact on students’ lives every day. Join us and be part of our mission!

SEN Teaching Assistant Employment Status

• This position involves engaging with us as a self-employed mentor
• We provide guidance / signposting on accessing resources to register as self-employed if you are not registered already
• This is not a PAYE position

Relevant Job Titles / Previous Experience

Individuals with highly relevant experience from teaching background often have worked in the following roles:

• SENDCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator)
• SLD / MLD Teacher
• Autism / ADHD Support Teacher
• Intervention Specialist / Teacher / Tutor
• Ex-Teacher

Other highly relevant roles from therapeutic and learning support background include:

• Learning Support Assistant (LSA) / Teaching Assistant (TA)
• Educational Therapist
• Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
• Educational Psychologist (EP)
• Inclusion Coordinator

If you hold one of these roles, meet our requirements, and are considering a career change please do consider applying with us.

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every applicant. We aim to respond to all successful applicants within two weeks.