Experienced SEN Teaching Assistants
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Experienced SEN Teaching Assistant - Special Educational Needs School in Tonbridge
Full-time - £93 per day - ASAP start - Monday to Friday 8.30am-3.30pm
Ad-hoc and potential to become a long-term position
If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with severe and complex special educational needs, and thrive in a nurturing yet highly specialised environment, this could be the role for you.
Tradewind Recruitment are currently seeking resilient, compassionate, and committed SEN Teaching Assistants to join one of our client schools in Tonbridge
The Role
- Supporting pupils on a 1:1 or small group basis with needs including severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), complex learning difficulties, autism spectrum condition (ASC), and sensory impairments.
- Assisting with personalised learning programmes tailored to each pupil's EHCP, focusing on communication, independence, and life skills.
- Providing support with personal care where required, ensuring dignity and respect at all times.
- Using a calm, patient, and nurturing approach to support pupils who may have communication difficulties or sensory needs.
- Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, and support staff to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment.
- Being a positive role model who genuinely wants to make a difference - this role is more than just a job.
- Taking initiative in the classroom and building meaningful, trusting relationships with pupils and their families.
Requirements
- Prior experience as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Care Support Worker, or within a specialist SEN setting is essential
- Experience supporting children or young people with SLD, PMLD, autism, or complex needs is advantageous.
- You must demonstrate patience, emotional resilience, adaptability, and a proactive attitude.
- A willingness to assist with personal care and medical needs where necessary.
- Must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to obtain an enhanced DBS (child-only) on the update service or be willing to get a new one. A new DBS costs £62 and we will reimburse the £62 once you complete 20 days of work with us.
- If you have been out of the UK in the last 5 years for 6 months or more, you will also need to obtain an overseas police check.
Why work with Tradewind Recruitment?
- Competitive daily rates and transparent pay.
- Ongoing access to over 2,500 CPD-accredited courses through The National College.
- A dedicated and experienced consultant supporting you every step of the way.
- A reliable and knowledgeable compliance team ensuring smooth onboarding and continued support.
If you're ready to support children and young people in a setting where your care, consistency, and commitment can truly change lives, apply today to join a supportive and forward-thinking specialist school community.
#INDKENT
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your SEN Teaching Assistant experience at the top of your CV as the advert specifically requires prior TA experience in specialist settings
📊 Quantify your SEN experience: "Supported 8 pupils with PMLD over 18 months, improving communication outcomes by 40%"
🌐 Emphasise your experience with specific conditions mentioned: SLD, PMLD, autism spectrum condition, and sensory impairments
🎯 Include your Enhanced DBS status prominently as this is essential for the role and mentioned multiple times
🤝 Showcase examples of working collaboratively with teachers, therapists and families as the role requires multi-disciplinary teamwork
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:
- •Supported 12 pupils with SLD and PMLD through personalised EHCP programmes, achieving 85% of communication targets within 6-month review periods
- •Delivered 1:1 autism spectrum support for 4 pupils daily, implementing sensory regulation strategies that reduced challenging behaviours by 60%
- •Collaborated with 6 therapists and teachers to adapt learning materials for pupils with complex needs, improving engagement levels across 15 weekly sessions
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
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Letter preview — tailored to Tradewind Recruitment
Dear Hiring Manager,
Tradewind Recruitment's SEN Teaching Assistant position at the specialist school in Tonbridge aligns perfectly with my passion for supporting pupils with complex needs. My experience with EHCP implementation and autism spectrum support makes me well-suited to deliver the 1:1 and small group interventions this role requires.
My background in supporting children with SLD, PMLD and sensory impairments has equipped me with the patience and adaptability essential for this specialist environment. I understand the importance of personalised learning programmes and have experience working collaboratively with teachers and therapists to create inclusive learning environments.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you adapt learning materials for a pupil with PMLD?
- ›What strategies do you use to support communication with non-verbal pupils?
- ›How do you implement EHCP objectives in daily classroom activities?
- ›What experience do you have with sensory impairment support equipment?
- ›How would you handle a pupil's challenging behaviour related to their autism?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time when you had to show exceptional patience with a pupil
- ›Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a pupil's changing needs
- ›How do you maintain professional boundaries while providing personal care?
- ›Give an example of how you've built trust with a pupil with complex needs
- ›Tell me about a time you worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time when you had to show exceptional patience with a pupil
Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a pupil's changing needs