SEND Teaching Assistant

Veritas Primary Academy; Stafford; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Professional Development

Flexible working

Blue Light Card discounts

Well-being support

Job summary

REAch2 Academy Trust is seeking SEND Teaching Assistants to join the learning and inclusion team. You will assist teachers and the SENCO to support pupils with a range of additional needs through classroom support, targeted small group interventions and 1:1 support where required.

Successful candidates will be deployed flexibly to where need is greatest, maintaining high professional standards, initiative and adaptability, and will contribute to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Teaching Assistant supporting pupils with SEND
• GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent)
• NVQ Level 2 (or above) or a relevant qualification
• Calm, patient and consistent with strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, SEND staff and external agencies
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting welfare of children
• Emotional resilience when supporting pupils with challenging behaviour
• Professional, flexible and reflective in practice

Responsibilities

• Classroom support
• Targeted small group interventions
• 1:1 support where required
• Flexible deployment to where need is greatest

Skills

Teaching Assistant experience

SEN support

GCSE English & Maths

Interpersonal skills

Collaborative work with teachers

Safeguarding

Emotional resilience

Professional flexibility

Education

NVQ Level 2 or above

Job description

SEND Teaching Assistants are a valued part of the teaching and inclusion team. The role involves working under the direction of teachers and the SENCO to support pupils with a range of additional needs, through:

• Classroom support
• Targeted small group interventions
• 1:1 support where required

The successful candidates will be deployed flexibly to support pupils where need is greatest and will demonstrate high professional standards, initiative and adaptability.

Essential Criteria

Applicants must clearly evidence how they meet the following criteria (as outlined in the job description):

• Proven experience working as a Teaching Assistant, including supporting pupils with special educational needs
• GCSE English and Maths at Grade C / 4 or above (or equivalent)
• NVQ Level 2 (or above) or a relevant recognised qualification
• A calm, patient and consistent approach with strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with teachers, SEND staff and external agencies
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Emotional resilience when supporting pupils with challenging behaviour
• A professional, flexible and reflective approach to practice

Experience & Skills Considered

Experience supporting pupils with the following needs will be advantageous, but is not required for all posts:

• Cognition & Learning
• Language & Social Interaction
• Autistic Spectrum Conditions
• Social Communication Difficulties
• Sensory Processing Needs

Selection Process

• All internal applicants are required to submit a full application
• Shortlisting, interview and final decisions will be made against the job description and person specification
• Due to the limited number of posts, not all applicants will be successful
• Feedback will be offered to internal candidates following the process

Colleagues are strongly encouraged to have an informal discussion with a member of the senior leadership team prior to applying.

Commitment to Fairness & Support

We recognise that this is a challenging process and are committed to managing it with sensitivity, professionalism and transparency. All staff will continue to be treated with dignity and respect throughout.

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

REAch2 Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS.

Why Work with REAch2 Academy Trust?

Join REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the UK’s largest primary academy trusts, with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background. Here’s why joining our team can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice:

• Excellence & Development: We prioritise high standards and offer extensive professional development and career growth opportunities.

• Supportive & Collaborative: Be part of a strong, collaborative community of over 60 schools where every voice is valued, and best practices are shared.

• Well-being Focus: We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer robust well-being support for all staff.

• Diversity & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and believe that varied perspectives strengthen our schools.

• Innovation & Impact: Bring creativity to the classroom and make a real difference in children’s lives.

• Making a difference: Working with REAch2 means contributing to something bigger than yourself. You’ll be helping to shape the lives of young learners, making a meaningful impact on communities and future generations.

Join us to grow your career, collaborate with passionate educators, and make a lasting impact on future generations.

Benefits

We offer a range of benefits to support your career and well-being:

• Generous Annual Leave: healthy work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Access diverse CPD and training opportunities to grow your skills.

• Flexible & Family-Friendly: We are committed to supporting flexible working and requests will be considered on an individual basis, including options such as part time, term-time, home working, and other options that work for both the employee and the Trust.

• Exclusive Discounts: Benefit from Blue Light Card offers and employee perks.

• Well-being Support: Receive comprehensive well-being and employee assistance for you and your family.

Join REAch2 for a rewarding career with great benefits!

Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection

At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils.

We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children’s Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity.

For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please click here for our Safer Recruitment Policy.

All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy.

The Trust ensures all applicant data is stored and processed appropriately. For further details on how your information will be managed during the recruitment process please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applications.