Teaching Assistant

Zest Education; Metchley; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Immediate start

Ongoing safeguarding training

Supportive staff team

Job summary

Zest Education is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to support pupils aged 11 to 19 with SEND, including ASD, SLCN, MLD, SLD and SEMH. You will help implement EHCPs, adapt activities, and use visual supports to boost communication, independence and learning engagement.

This role offers an immediate start in a supportive specialist setting, with ongoing safeguarding checks and training. You will collaborate with teachers, therapists and families to deliver tailored learning, foster

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people with SEND, autism, communication needs, SEMH, or learning difficulties.
• Patience, empathy and resilience when working with diverse learning needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with staff, families and professionals.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with autism, communication difficulties, learning needs and SEMH.
• Help implement EHCPs and personalised learning programmes.
• Adapt classroom activities and resources to meet a wide range of abilities.
• Utilise visual strategies and structured approaches to aid理解.
• Foster positive relationships to help pupils feel safe and ready to learn.
• Support development of independence, life skills and emotional wellbeing.
• Collaborate with teachers, therapists, mentors, families and other professionals.

Skills

SEND experience

Autism

Communication skills

Team player

Patience

Job description

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a supportive Teaching Assistant to start immediately. This Teaching Assistant position will involve working with young people aged 11 to 19 who have a range of special educational needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN), Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Many pupils require tailored support to develop their communication skills, emotional regulation, independence, confidence, and engagement with learning.

The Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Support pupils with autism, communication difficulties, learning needs, and SEMH needs.
• Help implement individual Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and personalised learning programmes.
• Adapt classroom activities and resources to meet a wide range of abilities and learning styles.
• Use visual strategies, structured approaches, and communication tools to support pupil understanding and participation.
• Build positive, trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.
• Support the development of independence, life skills, social skills, and emotional wellbeing.
• Work closely with teachers, therapists, mentors, families, and other professionals to ensure the best outcomes for every pupil.

This Teaching Assistant role is ideal for someone who is passionate about helping young people overcome barriers to learning and achieve success both academically and personally.

What You'll Need

• Previous experience supporting children or young people with SEND, autism, communication needs, SEMH needs, or learning difficulties.
• A patient, caring, and resilient approach.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A team-focused attitude and willingness to learn.
• The ability to remain calm and supportive in challenging situations.
• Motivation to succeed as a Teaching Assistant and make a lasting difference in pupils's lives.

Why Apply?

• Immediate start available.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.
• Supportive and welcoming staff team.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• A rewarding Teaching Assistant role within a specialist educational setting.

Zest Education are an APSCo audited agency and are dedicated to safeguarding children. All candidates must hold an enhanced DBS (or allow us to process one for you) and be registered to the DBS Update Service, be able to provide references to cover the last two years and successfully pass all other necessary safeguarding checks prior to clearance for work.

Salary is dependent on experience, training, or qualifications. The minimum experience, training, or qualifications required for this position are recent school-based experience (within the last 5 years within a school that teaches the British Curriculum) and/or care-based experience within the last 5 years.

The role advertised is for temporary supply work