Teaching Assistant to support high and complex SEND needs

Swaffham CofE Primary Academy; Breckland District; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

Swaffham CofE Primary Academy in Norfolk is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to join our SEND provision. You will support pupils with communication, language and social needs, in a high adult-to-child setting, across small groups or 1:1 as required. The role is term time plus one week, 27.5 hours per week, during a fixed term until 31 August 2027.

We value patience, teamwork and a proactive approach to learning, with opportunities for CPD across the DNEAT Trust.

Qualifications

• Desirable experience with ASD, ADHD, SEMH or global development delay
• Comfort with using technology to support learning
• Experience with SEND

Responsibilities

• Support communication and language development
• Support social, emotional and language needs
• Be a forward-thinking TA with the willingness to learn, adapt and be flexible to meet the needs of all learners
• Follow direction of the teacher and in collaboration adapt provision for pupils to access the curriculum
• Promote inclusion and acceptance of pupils while encouraging constructive relationships within the classroom
• Under the guidance and direction of the class teacher, promote positive relationships with parents/carers
• Undertake structured and agreed learning activities, adjusting activities according to pupil responses
• Support the needs of all learners to access the curriculum and make progress, under the direction of the class teacher
• Have the ability to be independent and work as part of a team

Skills

Patience

Teamwork

Adaptability

SEND experience

Education

Level 2 or 3 childcare qualification

Job description

Part of the Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT)

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

• Salary: £16,823- £17,090 actual pa (£26,427- £26,847 FTE)
• Fixed Term until 31/08/2027
• Part Time
• 27.5 hours per week
• Term Time + 1 week
• Required ASAP

About the Role / We would love to hear from you if:

Do you believe in inclusion and that every child has the right and ability to shine, learn, believe and belong?

“Provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities is effective.”

“Skilled adults deliver support effectively.”

“Staff enjoy working at the school… feel well supported by leaders… leaders are considerate of their workload and well-being.” Ofsted June 2023

Our values are rooted in enabling every child to flourish through our fantastic curriculum. Swaffham Church of England Primary Academy has an exciting opportunity for someone who is driven to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

We are looking for someone who is adaptive, consistent and patient, who understands how to support pupils with a range of communication and language needs, cognition and learning difficulties and associated communication, social and emotional challenges.

The role includes working in our bespoke provision for children with complex needs with a high adult to child ratio. The pupil(s) that you will be working with will either be in our bespoke provision or experiencing their mainstream base classroom. You will be working either in a small group capacity, or on a 1:1 basis depending on the individual needs and this evolves with the children. Typically, each pupil has a range of needs that are individual to them and require a highly adaptive, responsive and empathetic approach. Their range of needs includes, but is not limited to:

• Global development delay
• Significant speech and language needs
• Autism
• ADHD
• SEMH needs

SEND and inclusion Teaching Assistant roles are unique and require a nurturing approach with a positive attitude, where we learn, proactively develop and adapt, as a team, to the needs of the children and support them to get the very best experience they can from school life.

• Are you patient and understanding?
• Are you child centred?
• Can you work well as a team?
• Are you keen to learn and develop your skill set and understanding of SEND?
• Would you like to be part of our growing, positive team where children are at the very centre of all we do?
• Are you able to adapt to the evolving needs of individuals?
• Do you place a great deal of importance on mental health and well-being for all?
• Are you enthusiastic about supporting children on their individual journey?

If so, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference and have a strong impact on special and inclusion at Swaffham Primary Academy!

We want to hear from you!

In this role you would be working as part of a team to ensure that high needs children have the provision, patience, understanding and support they need to access an adaptive curriculum and thrive within our setting.

We are seeking to employ someone who can:

• Support communication and language development
• Support social, emotional and language needs
• Be a forward-thinking TA with the willingness to learn, adapt and be flexible to meet the needs of all learners
• Follow direction of the teacher and in collaboration adapt provision for pupils to access the curriculum
• Promote inclusion and acceptance of pupils while encouraging constructive relationships within the classroom
• Under the guidance and direction of the class teacher, promote positive relationships with parents/carers
• Undertake structured and agreed learning activities, adjusting activities according to pupil responses
• Support the needs of all learners to access the curriculum and make progress, under the direction of the class teacher
• Have the ability to be independent and work as part of a team

Desirable experience:

• Working with ASD, ADHD and SEMH or pupils with global development delay would be an advantage
• Confident and knowledgeable working with technology to support learning
• Working with pupils with SEND

Desirable qualification

• Level 2 or 3 childcare qualification (or equivalent)

We can offer:

• A Thrive approach
• Bespoke provision
• A friendly, welcoming, enthusiastic and committed staff team
• Fantastic children who are keen to learn
• A commitment to CPD and professional development with opportunities across the Trust
• The opportunity to work in a collaborative environment both within the academy and also as part of the DNEAT family of schools
• A happy and positive working environment
• Fantastic provision including a soft play area, enhanced SEND areas around the school, large outdoor grounds and sensory provision

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the school office to book an appointment or speak with the SENDCo/Deputy Headteacher on 01760 721831 or [e-mail]

Closing Date: 3 November 2026

Interview Dates: W/C 9 November 2026

The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments will be subject to full safeguarding checks as well as satisfactory references.

The Trust's safeguarding policy can be found on our website.

This post is likely to come under the requirements of the Childcare (Disqualification) 2009 Regulations and the successful applicant will be required to complete a declaration form to establish whether they are disqualified under these regulations.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post.

Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English is an essential requirement for this role.