SEND Teaching Assistant

Senploy; London Borough of Lambeth; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Senploy in Lambeth is seeking a dedicated Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant to support pupils with SEND. You will work closely with teachers, the SENCO and support staff to help pupils progress and feel included.

The role focuses on 1:1 and small-group support, adapting activities, developing communication and emotional regulation, and contributing to a positive, structured learning environment within a busy school.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with SEND in school or similar setting.
• Patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Ability to build warm, professional relationships with pupils.
• Understands that behaviour can be a form of communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide focused 1:1 and small-group SEND support.
• Adapt classroom activities to make learning more accessible.
• Support pupils to develop communication and interaction skills.
• Help children recognise and regulate their emotions.
• Use positive and consistent approaches to behaviour.
• Support pupils during transitions, changes in routine or unfamiliar situations.
• Deliver interventions designed around individual learning and developmental needs.
• Observe progress and provide feedback to teachers and the SENCO.
• Celebrate achievements that may look very different for each child.

Job description

A welcoming and inclusive school in Lambeth is looking for a dedicated Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant to join its team and provide high-quality support to pupils with a range of SEND. This is a hands-on and rewarding role for someone who wants to understand the individual child, recognise the barriers they face and provide the right level of support to help them progress.

The Pupils You'll Support

You'll work with children who may have a range of additional needs, including:

• ADHD and attention or concentration difficulties.
• Speech, language and communication needs.
• Learning difficulties and developmental delay.
• Personal Care

What Will Your Day Look Like?

Working closely with class teachers, the SENCO and wider support team, you'll help ensure pupils can participate meaningfully in school life. You'll:

• Provide focused 1:1 and small-group SEND support.
• Adapt classroom activities to make learning more accessible.
• Support pupils to develop communication and interaction skills.
• Help children recognise and regulate their emotions.
• Use positive and consistent approaches to behaviour.
• Support pupils during transitions, changes in routine or unfamiliar situations.
• Deliver interventions designed around individual learning and developmental needs.
• Observe progress and provide useful feedback to teachers and the SENCO.
• Celebrate achievements that may look very different for each individual child.

You'll also work alongside other professionals where appropriate, which could include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and pastoral teams.

Building Trust Comes First

Successful SEND support starts with relationships. You'll take time to understand the pupils you're working with - how they communicate, what motivates them, what they find difficult and what can cause them to become overwhelmed. You'll need to know when a child needs encouragement, when they need structure, when they need reassurance and when giving them a little more independence is the right thing to do. Some days will require patience and resilience. Others will give you those brilliant moments where a child achieves something that once felt incredibly difficult. Both are part of the job.

Who Would Suit This Role?

We're particularly interested in hearing from people who already have experience supporting children or young people with SEND, whether that's been gained within a school, specialist provision, care environment or another relevant setting.

You might currently be working as a:

• SEND Teaching Assistant
• Learning Support Assistant
• 1:1 Teaching Assistant
• Behaviour Mentor
• Support Worker
• Autism Support Worker
• Pastoral Support Assistant

You'll need to be someone who:

• Is patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Can build warm but professional relationships with pupils.
• Understands that behaviour can be a form of communication.
• Can remain calm and consistent when a child is struggling.
• Adapts their communication and approach to the individual.
• Works confidently as part of a wider multidisciplinary team.
• Has high expectations while recognising that progress looks different for every pupil.
• Is genuinely committed to inclusion and helping children become more independent.

Knowledge or experience of ASC, ADHD, SEMH, speech and language needs, PMLD, Personal Care, Moving & Handling, EHCPs or positive behaviour support would be particularly valuable.

Develop Your SEND Experience

This isn't simply an extra pair of hands in the classroom. You'll gain valuable experience of individualised SEND support while working alongside experienced education professionals. The opportunity includes:

• A full-time position in Lambeth.
• Competitive pay dependent on experience.
• Experience supporting a variety of additional needs.
• Ongoing guidance from experienced school staff.
• Access to professional development and training.
• Support from a dedicated education consultant.
• Valuable experience for anyone looking to progress within SEND, education, pastoral support or related professions.

The Difference You Make Might Not Always Be Obvious

Progress could be completing a piece of work independently. It could be communicating a need instead of becoming overwhelmed. It could be joining a group activity, managing a difficult transition, making a friend or simply arriving at school feeling safe and ready to learn. As a Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant, you'll be there for those moments - helping pupils build the skills and confidence that allow them to achieve more for themselves.

Interested? If you have experience supporting children or young people with additional needs and you're looking for your next SEN Teaching Assistant role in Lambeth, we'd love to hear from you.