Teaching assistant (SEND)

Five Education; Calne; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Five Education are recruiting a Teaching Assistant for a special school in Calne. The role supports identified pupils with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or mental health challenges, working 1:1 or in small groups to make the curriculum accessible and engaging.

We are looking for someone who is emotionally resilient, a strong communicator and capable of building rapport with pupils who may struggle to trust adults. Previous experience is not essential, but relevant backgrounds are valuable.

Qualifications

• Full-time availability (Mon-Fri 8:30–3:30)
• Right to work in the UK – no sponsorship offered
• DBS check on Update Service or willing to apply; cost £62.70, refunded after 20 days of work

Responsibilities

• Support students 1:1 and in small groups by making the curriculum accessible and engaging
• Ensure safety and well-being of students during breaks and lunchtimes
• Help students develop social skills and self-regulation
• Collaborate with teachers, SENCo and other staff to address individual needs of students

Job description

Five Education are recruiting a Teaching Assistant for a special school in Calne. The role is to support identified pupils with Special Education Needs (SEN) and/or mental health challenges. This work will be supporting pupils 1:1 or in small groups.

Previous experience in supporting individuals with SEND such as Autism and an ability to manage challenging behaviour is desirable. The right person for this role will be kind, compassionate, patient and resilient.

Please note that we do not recommend relocating for this role.

The role will involve:

• Supporting students both 1:1 and in small groups by making the curriculum accessible and fun
• Always ensuring the safety and well‑being of students, including at break and lunch times
• Helping students to develop social skills and self‑regulation skills
• Working collaboratively with teachers, SENCo and other staff members to address the individual needs of students

Who We're Looking For:

• Emotionally resilient and able to stay calm in challenging situations
• Strong communicator with a positive and proactive mindset
• Able to build rapport with young people, particularly those who may struggle to trust adults
• Previous experience isn't essential, but backgrounds in youth work, care, mental health, sport, or support work are valuable

Essential requirements:

• Right to work in the UK – we are unable to offer sponsorship or accept Skilled Worker visas
• Full‑time availability (Monday to Friday 8:30‑3:30)
• Able to provide two recent references (from the last two years)
• Hold a current DBS check registered on the Update Service, or be willing to apply for one
• If you do not have a Non‑Voluntary Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, we will need to help you process a new one at a cost of £62.70. This will be refunded after 20 days of work with us

What can Five Education offer you?

• Check out our Google reviews for one of the best supply experiences in Bristol! We offer free specialised training in areas such as Team Teach, Makaton, PMLD/SLD Awareness, Autism Awareness, and more
• Free DBS (refunded when you work 20 days)
• Recommending a friend bonus scheme
• Specialist support/ mentoring while you are working

If you think this could be a job for you, please get in touch to find out more from Joseph at (phone number removed). We are always available for an informal chat if you want to find out more about whether this role is suited to you.

Pay: Five Education operates a PAYE payroll; this is the most transparent way to be paid with no hidden fees such as admin fee or employer's NI. Please note pay rate is for illustration and does include holiday pay.

Vetting:

Five Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all of the staff we employ to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo checks including reference checks, TRA checks and will need to have a DBS; there will also be an interview.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as they are currently under‑represented at this level.

Contact Joseph on (phone number removed) / (url removed)