TEACHING ASSISTANT (SEND UNIT)

Lancashire County Council; Leyland; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Northbrook Primary Academy in Leyland, Lancashire, invites applications for a Teaching Assistant to join our SEND Unit Thrive, supporting children with speech, language and communication needs.

You will work within a caring, inclusive team to help pupils progress academically and in communication, social interaction, self-regulation and independence. The role is full-time with INSET days, Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:15pm, and requires NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children in key stages.
• Experience of working in a SEND classroom/group environment.
• First Aid qualification is desirable (not essential at point of application; training provided).

Skills

Enthusiastic about SEND

Communication skills

Education

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

First Aid Qualification

Job description

Location Northbrook Primary Academy, Bannister Drive, Leyland, Lancashire, PR25 2GB (181 on roll)

Tel: [phone]

School website: northbrookpa.org

Summary At an exciting time in the School’s and Trust’s journey, we are delighted to offer the opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our caring and ambitious staff team here at Northbrook Primary Academy, working within our growing SEND Unit, Thrive, for children with Special Educational Needs, specifically speech, language and communication.

Our SEND Unit is a nurturing and inclusive environment designed to meet the needs of pupils with a range of additional learning needs, enabling them to thrive both academically and personally. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our developing provision, shaping practice and making a real difference to children’s lives.

All of our staff at Northbrook are ambitious for our children and are driven to ensure that they receive the very best education possible, in a calm, supportive and inspiring environment. We are leaving no stone unturned in our drive to raise standards and to provide all our pupils with the experiences and outcomes they deserve.

We are looking for an individual who is enthusiastic about supporting children with SEND, and who understands the importance of personalised approaches to learning. The successful candidate will be committed to helping children make the best possible progress not only academically, but also in their communication, social interaction, self-regulation, and independence. Our core aim is to equip all children with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive—both within our school and beyond. Pupils benefit from a range of tailored learning opportunities that promote their academic, emotional and personal development.

Our core aim is to provide children with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and confidence necessary to make informed choices for themselves and to become independent, resilient learners. Children in our SEND Unit will experience a broad range of learning opportunities that promote academic progress, personal growth and emotional well‑being.

This position is full time permanent. Working 31.25 hours per week plus INSET. Monday to Friday 8:30am until 3:15pm

Essential Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification

Desirable Qualifications

• First Aid Qualification (qualification not essential at point of application, training will be given if required)

Essential Experience

• Experience of working with children in both key stages
• Experience of working in a relevant SEND classroom/group environment

Desirable Experience

• Experience of working with children using alternative methods of communication
• Experience of working with students with medical needs and personal care
• Experience of Administrative work e.g target setting and interventions
• Experience of supporting pupils with challenging behaviour and sensory needs

Proposed Interview Date: 20/11/2026

Equal Opportunities statement An Equal Opportunities Employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community Rehabilitation Rehabilitation The post you are applying for is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). If successful you will be required to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for a 'disclosure'. Information provided by you or the Disclosure and Barring Service will be dealt with in a confidential manner in accordance with the DBS's Code of Practice. You may view the Code of Practice on the DBS website at www.gov.uk/dbs or alternatively a copy is available on request. Lancashire County Council has a Handling of DBS Certificate Information Policy and a Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders this is available from the recruiting manager to applicants who are asked to complete a DBS application.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The County Council is committed to equality of opportunity for all people in terms of recruitment, selection and employment, and is a Disability Confident employer, which means that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria in the person specification will be interviewed. However, commitment to this standard is on an individual school basis and, therefore, if you are applying for a position within a school, you will need to check with the school whether they have made the decision to comply with this standard.

Please note that we can only consider applications from candidates who are legally entitled to work in the UK.