Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant

Vision for Education Ltd; West of England; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Vision for Education is recruiting a Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant to join a specialist primary school in Henbury, Bristol. You will support pupils with SEMH needs, helping them feel safe, build relationships and gain confidence to engage with learning.

No SEND experience is required; the school seeks a calm, patient person who genuinely wants to help children succeed and learn on the job.

Qualifications

• No previous SEND experience required.
• Candidate should be willing to learn and stay calm in challenging moments.
• Genuine desire to help children succeed in a specialist setting.

Responsibilities

• Supporting primary-aged pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs.
• Helping children feel settled, safe and ready to learn.
• Building positive relationships through patience and consistency.
• Encouraging pupils to develop confidence and manage their emotions.
• Supporting classroom activities and helping children engage with learning.
• Using positive approaches to behaviour with guidance from experienced staff.
• Helping pupils develop social skills, independence and coping strategies.
• Working closely with teachers and other support staff.

Skills

Patient and understanding

Calm and resilient

Caring and approachable

Reliable and consistent

Proactive and willing to learn

Positive and motivated

Job description

Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant

Henbury, Bristol | £475+ per week PAYE

Full-Time | Specialist Primary School | Immediate Opportunity

Start a career where patience, understanding and kindness can change lives

Looking for a career that's genuinely rewarding? Interested in working with children but haven't had the chance to get into education yet?

Vision for Education is recruiting a Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant to join a specialist primary school in Henbury, Bristol.

You'll be supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, helping them feel safe, build positive relationships and develop the confidence to engage with learning.

Some pupils may struggle with their emotions, behaviour or experiences outside school. Your role will be to provide encouragement, consistency and support, helping children work through challenges and recognise their own progress.

No previous SEND experience is required. The school is looking for someone who's willing to learn, can stay calm when things get difficult and genuinely wants to help children succeed.

What will the role involve?

• Supporting primary-aged pupils with social, emotional and behavioural needs.

• Helping children feel settled, safe and ready to learn.

• Building positive relationships through patience and consistency.

• Encouraging pupils to develop confidence and manage their emotions.

• Supporting classroom activities and helping children engage with learning.

• Using positive approaches to behaviour with guidance from experienced staff.

• Helping pupils develop social skills, independence and coping strategies.

• Working closely with teachers and other support staff.

You'll learn how to support different needs and behaviours while gaining valuable hands‑on experience in a specialist school.

Who are we looking for?

You don't need to have worked in a school before. We're interested in people who bring the right qualities and are keen to develop.

You'll ideally be:

• Patient and understanding- able to recognise that behaviour can be a form of communication.

• Calm and resilient- comfortable working through challenging moments.

• Caring and approachable- keen to build trust with children.

• Reliable and consistent- someone pupils and colleagues can depend on.

• Proactive and willing to learn- ready to take guidance and get involved.

• Positive and motivated- passionate about helping children reach their potential.

Experience in childcare, care, youth work, sports coaching, residential support or similar roles can be useful, but it's not essential.

If you're looking for a career change or your first step into education, this could be a brilliant opportunity to get started.

Training and support

As a trainee, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills while working alongside experienced school staff.

• Learn practical strategies for supporting SEMH needs.

• Develop your understanding of behaviour and emotional regulation.

• Access relevant training and professional development.

• Build experience in a specialist primary setting.

• Receive ongoing support from your dedicated Vision for Education consultant.

• Explore opportunities to p