Apprentice Teaching Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Apprentice SEND Teaching Assistant
SEND Teaching Assistant | SEN Teaching Assistant | SEMH Support
Location: Barnet
Pay: £10.00 - £13.00 per hour (above apprenticeship rate)
Start Date: September
Contract: Full-Time
Earn while you learn as a SEND Teaching AssistantAre you looking for a SEND Teaching Assistant role with training, pay from day one, and real long-term career progression in education?
We’re recruiting a Trainee SEND Teaching Assistant to join a supportive Secondary School in Barnet, working with students across KS1 and KS2 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) while completing a fully funded Level 3 Teaching Assistant Apprenticeship.
Why this role stands out- £10.00+ per hour (above standard apprenticeship wage)
- FREE Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (CACHE)
- Clear progression to Level 4 HLTA and specialist SEND roles
- Full mentoring and structured support from Engage Education
- Practical, school-based training with a strong SEND and SEMH focus
- Support students 1:1 and in small groups
- Work with pupils with SEND, SEMH, ASD, ADHD, and learning difficulties
- Support emotional regulation, behaviour, and engagement
- Assist with literacy, numeracy, and subject-based interventions
- Implement support strategies from EHCPs and behaviour plans
- Support inclusion within the classroom and specialist provisions
- Assist teachers with lesson preparation and learning resources
- Support targeted interventions and revision sessions
This role is ideal for:
- Aspiring teachers or SEND specialists
- Psychology, education, or youth work graduates
- Teaching Assistants or support staff looking to gain qualifications
- Youth workers, care workers, or mentors
- Career changers passionate about supporting young people with additional needs
No school experience required — just the right attitude.
Requirements:- Commitment to an 11-month apprenticeship
- GCSE Maths & English Grade C/4+ preferred
- Not currently enrolled on another government-funded course
- Study completed flexibly during school holidays
- £50 Amazon referral voucher
- Full DBS application support
- Clear long-term career progression in SEND and Secondary education
Apply now to start your career as a SEND Teaching Assistant and gain a recognised qualification while you earn.
All applicants must hold (or be willing to obtain) an enhanced DBS check – full support provided.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Open your CV with a Personal Statement that explicitly mentions SEND, SEMH, and your commitment to supporting young people with additional needs — the advert lists these as the core focus of the role.
📊 Quantify any prior experience working with young people: "Supported 8 students with ASD in weekly after-school sessions over 6 months" is far stronger than a vague description.
🎯 Highlight your GCSE Maths and English grades (Grade C/4+) prominently in your Education section, as the advert lists these as a preferred requirement.
🌐 If you have any background in psychology, youth work, or care work, dedicate a bullet point to each role showing how it relates to supporting young people with SEND or emotional regulation.
🤝 Mention your willingness to obtain an enhanced DBS check and any existing safeguarding awareness training, as the advert flags DBS as a mandatory requirement for all applicants.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Delivered weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions to 6 young people aged 11-16 with SEMH needs over a 9-month period, contributing to a measurable improvement in school attendance for 4 participants.
- •Supported a team of 3 youth workers in designing and running group activities for 12 young people with ASD and learning difficulties, reducing behavioural incidents by approximately 30% over one term.
- •Assisted lead teacher in preparing differentiated literacy resources for a KS2 intervention group of 5 pupils working 18 months below expected level, helping 3 pupils achieve their termly reading targets.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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Letter preview — tailored to Engage Education
Dear Hiring Manager,
Engage Education's Apprentice SEND Teaching Assistant role in Barnet is precisely the opportunity I have been seeking to begin a career in specialist education. The combination of structured 1:1 SEND support, SEMH-focused practice, and a fully funded Level 3 CACHE qualification makes this role stand out as a genuine launchpad into the sector.
My background in working with young people — whether through youth work, voluntary mentoring, or community support — has given me a strong foundation in empathy-led communication, emotional regulation techniques, and adapting my approach to individual needs. I am confident in supporting pupils across KS1 and KS2 with a range of additional needs including ASD and ADHD, and I am committed to completing the full 11-month apprenticeship programme.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›What do you understand by an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and how would you use it to support a pupil in the classroom?
- ›Can you explain the difference between ASD and ADHD and describe one strategy you would use to support a pupil with each condition?
- ›What does SEMH stand for, and what practical techniques might you use to support a student experiencing emotional dysregulation in class?
- ›How would you adapt a literacy intervention activity for a KS2 pupil working significantly below their expected level?
- ›What is the role of a Teaching Assistant in supporting inclusion within a mainstream secondary school classroom?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you supported someone who was struggling — what did you do and what was the outcome?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to remain calm and patient under pressure. How did you manage it?
- ›Give an example of when you adapted your communication style to suit a particular individual's needs.
- ›Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team to achieve a shared goal. What was your contribution?
- ›Describe a moment when you showed initiative in a caring, educational, or youth work setting.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you supported someone who was struggling — what did you do and what was the outcome?
Describe a situation where you had to remain calm and patient under pressure. How did you manage it?