Teaching Assistant

Loyal Blue Recruitment; Watford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyal Blue Recruitment is assisting a specialist SEN school in Watford to recruit a SEN Teaching Assistant for Key Stage 4. You will support pupils to access learning and work with teachers and SEN staff to foster confidence and independence.

The role focuses on pupils with autism and complex needs, providing individual and classroom support, building trusting relationships, and using de-escalation strategies. A full induction and safeguarding training are provided.

Qualifications

• Patient, calm and approachable.
• Confident supporting young people with additional needs.
• Able to build positive relationships while maintaining clear boundaries.
• Comfortable supporting behaviour and using de-escalation strategies.
• Reliable and able to provide the consistency these pupils need.
• Willing to work closely with teachers and other support staff.
• Committed to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing.
• Willing to learn and take guidance from experienced SEN professionals.

Responsibilities

• Supporting pupils with autism, SEN and complex additional needs.
• Providing individual and classroom-based support.
• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Helping pupils engage with lessons and activities.
• Supporting behaviour calmly and confidently.
• Maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
• Following the school’s behaviour and safeguarding procedures.
• Working closely with teachers and the wider SEN team.
• Helping pupils develop their confidence and independence.
• Contributing to a short report at the end of each day.

Skills

Patience

Calm under pressure

Reliability

Consistency

Building trust

Safeguarding

De-escalation

Team collaboration

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant - Key Stage 4

Watford | Specialist SEN School | Long-Term Opportunity

£110 - £120 per day | Starting ASAP

SEN secondary school near the Watford area that is looking for a Teaching Assistant to support pupils in Key Stage 4.

The school supports young people with autism and complex additional needs and has worked hard to create a calm, structured and supportive environment.

They're looking for someone who is patient, reliable and consistent and who understands that building trust with pupils can take time.

For these young people, having familiar adults who turn up every day really matters.

The role

You’ll be working alongside teachers and other support staff, helping KS4 pupils access learning, manage challenges and become more confident and independent.

• Supporting pupils with autism, SEN and complex additional needs
• Providing individual and classroom-based support
• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils
• Helping pupils engage with lessons and activities
• Supporting behaviour calmly and confidently
• Maintaining clear and consistent boundaries
• Following the school’s behaviour and safeguarding procedures
• Working closely with teachers and the wider SEN team
• Helping pupils develop their confidence and independence
• Contributing to a short report at the end of each day

A supportive introduction to the school

One of the things we particularly like about this school is that they don't expect new staff to simply arrive on their first morning and get on with it.

You’ll receive a full induction and safeguarding training, as well as the opportunity to complete a shadow visit so you can see the school, meet the team and understand what the role involves.

This is followed by a paid one-week trial, giving both you and the school the opportunity to make sure it’s the right fit before moving forward.

You’ll also be given clear guidance around behaviour and expectations from the beginning, so you know exactly what’s expected of you.

Who are we looking for?

• Patient, calm and approachable
• Confident supporting young people with additional needs
• Able to build positive relationships while maintaining clear boundaries
• Comfortable supporting behaviour and using de-escalation strategies
• Reliable and able to provide the consistency these pupils need
• Happy working closely with teachers and other support staff
• Committed to safeguarding and pupil wellbeing
• Willing to learn and take guidance from experienced SEN professionals

Previous SEN experience would be a real advantage, but we’d still like to hear from you if you have relevant experience working with young people and feel you have the right personality and approach for a specialist school.

Please don’t let that stop you from applying.

If you’ve worked with young people, have some relevant SEN experience and believe you have the patience, resilience and consistency needed to work in a specialist environment, we’d be happy to have a conversation with you.