SEND Teaching Assistant

Senploy; Skelmersdale; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly pay based on exp.

PAYE pay every week

Long-term placement stability

Specialist SEND training and CPD

Dedicated consultant support

Refer-a-friend £150 scheme

Job summary

Operam Education Group is seeking a SEND Teaching Assistant to join a specialist school in Skelmersdale, supporting pupils with autism, ADHD, SEMH and moderate learning difficulties (MLD).

You’ll join an experienced team where support is tailored to the individual pupil and where you’ll work closely with teachers, the SENCO and the wider SEND team to adapt activities, support communication, and foster social and emotional development.

Qualifications

• Previous Teaching Assistant or relevant SEND experience.
• Experience supporting pupils with additional needs such as autism, ADHD, SEMH or learning difficulties.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Patience and resilience; ability to stay calm under pressure.
• Willingness to support with personal care where required.

Responsibilities

• Providing individual and small-group support.
• Helping pupils access learning at an appropriate level.
• Adapting activities and resources around different needs.
• Supporting communication and engagement.
• Helping pupils develop social and emotional skills.
• Supporting positive behaviour and emotional regulation.
• Encouraging confidence, choice and independence.
• Contributing to a safe, structured and inclusive learning environment.
• Supporting children's wider personal development alongside academic learning.
• Providing personal care where required, with appropriate training.
• Sharing observations and working collaboratively with the wider SEND team.

Skills

Strong communication

Relationship building

Patience

Resilience

Adaptability

Proactive

Safeguarding awareness

Job description

Pay: Competitive hourly rate, dependent on experience

Employer: Operam Education Group

One pupil may communicate confidently but struggle when routines change. Another may need additional time to process an instruction. Someone else may communicate without words, need help regulating their emotions or require support with aspects of their personal care.

That's the reality, and the reward, of working in specialist SEND education.

We're looking for a SEND Teaching Assistant to join a specialist school in Skelmersdale, supporting pupils with a range of additional needs including autism, ADHD, SEMH and moderate learning difficulties (MLD).

You’ll become part of an experienced team where support is shaped around the individual pupil rather than expecting every child to learn, communicate or participate in the same way.

Great SEND support isn’t about having one strategy that always works. It’s about getting to know the person in front of you.

• What helps them communicate?
• What makes learning accessible?
• What might cause anxiety or dysregulation?
• When should you step in, and when should you encourage independence?

You’ll work closely with teachers, the SENCO and wider support team to understand those individual differences and adapt your approach accordingly.

Your role will include:

• Providing individual and small-group support.
• Helping pupils access learning at an appropriate level.
• Adapting activities and resources around different needs.
• Supporting communication and engagement.
• Helping pupils develop social and emotional skills.
• Supporting positive behaviour and emotional regulation.
• Encouraging confidence, choice and independence.
• Contributing to a safe, structured and inclusive learning environment.
• Supporting children's wider personal development alongside academic learning.
• Providing personal care where required, with appropriate training.
• Sharing observations and working collaboratively with the wider SEND team.

You don’t need to know everything about every area of SEND. In fact, one of the benefits of working in a specialist school is the opportunity to keep developing your knowledge.

You’ll be surrounded by experienced colleagues and have access to specialist SEND training and CPD, giving you the opportunity to strengthen your understanding of different needs and approaches. This could be an excellent next step if you already have experience as a:

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Previous Teaching Assistant or relevant SEND experience.
• Experience supporting pupils with additional needs such as autism, ADHD, SEMH or learning difficulties.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Patience and resilience.
• The ability to remain consistent when situations become challenging.
• A proactive and adaptable approach.
• A commitment to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing.
• Willingness to support with personal care where required.

You also need an Enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service or be willing to apply for one.

Working in a specialist setting can give you experience that’s difficult to gain elsewhere.

You’ll encounter different communication styles, learning profiles and support strategies while working alongside people with extensive SEND knowledge.

Over time, that can help you become a more confident and versatile practitioner – whether you want to continue developing as a Teaching Assistant or eventually explore other areas of SEND, specialist education, pastoral support or pupil development.

Through Operam Education Group, you’ll also receive:

• Competitive hourly pay based on experience.
• PAYE pay every week.
• The stability of a long-term placement.
• Specialist SEND training and CPD opportunities.
• Dedicated consultant support.
• A £150 refer-a-friend scheme (T&Cs apply).

Qualifications and experience matter in SEND, But so does curiosity. The strongest practitioners don’t assume they know what a pupil needs simply because they’ve seen their diagnosis. They get to know the child first.

Operam Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and candidates to share this commitment.

Recruitment processes follow Safer Recruitment guidance and relevant safeguarding requirements. Appointments are subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, including references and an Enhanced DBS check. As part of registration, candidates will also be required to provide original qualifications for verification.

Operam Education Group is committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Reasonable adjustments can be made where required.