HomeJobsEast LondonGraduate SEN Teaching Assistant
Back to all jobs
⚡ Source: ReedRef: 56799240

Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant

Academics·East London·Posted 2 weeks ago
💰 0-0k GBP/year
Tailor my CV for this job — Free

Job description

Original text imported from Reed

Are you a Psychology, Drama, Sports, or Health & Social Care Graduate looking to take the first step in your career?
Do you have a passion for supporting young people with special educational needs?

Role: Full Time SEN Teaching Assistant - 8:30 - 3:30
Pay: £92 - £105 per day
Start Date: September - Summer Term 2026
Role type: Temp to Perm Contract - Term Time (with opportunity to extend)
Location: Islington

We are currently recruiting a dedicated and enthusiastic graduate in Psychology, Drama, Sports, or Health & Social Care to work as a SEN Teaching Assistant in a thriving "Outstanding" Special School located in Islington.

This is an exciting opportunity for a graduate who is keen to gain hands-on experience in a Special School setting, particularly within the SEN sector. Working alongside experienced professionals, you will receive on-the-job education and training to help you develop the skills required for a future career in education, therapy, youth work, social care, or related fields.

The Role:

  • Full-time SEN Teaching Assistant position
  • Based in a supportive SEN school in Islington
  • Assisting children with a range of learning and behavioural needs
  • Supporting pupils' academic, social, emotional, and physical development
  • Providing 1:1 and small group support

Ideal Candidate:

  • Recent Psychology, Drama, Sports, or Health & Social Care Graduate
  • Able to commit to a full-time role in Islington

This is a fantastic opportunity for a graduate to build practical experience that will support further studies or a career in education, therapy, social care, or teaching. The school, located in Islington, offers a welcoming environment and access to ongoing education and training.

If you are a graduate in one of these fields and this sounds like the perfect role for you, apply now to start your SEN Teaching Assistant journey in Islington!

SpeedCV AI

Key skills

AI-extracted from the job advert

Must-have skills
Psychology degreeDrama degreeSports degreeHealth & Social Care degreeFull-time availabilityCommitment to SEN sector
Nice-to-have
Experience with childrenVolunteer workUnderstanding of special educational needsBehavioural management knowledge
Soft skills
PatienceEmpathyCommunicationAdaptabilityTeamworkDedicationEnthusiasm
SpeedCV AI

Application advice

5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.

1

⭐ Highlight your specific graduate degree (Psychology/Drama/Sports/Health & Social Care) prominently as the school specifically seeks these qualifications

2

📊 Emphasise any practical experience with children or young people, even volunteer work: "Supported 8 children weekly at youth club"

3

🌐 Mention your commitment to the SEN sector and understanding of diverse learning needs in your personal statement

4

🎯 Include any relevant coursework or modules related to child development, behavioural psychology, or special needs

5

🤝 Show your enthusiasm for hands-on learning and professional development in the education sector

NEW
AI SpeedCV

Suggested CV bullets

3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.

How to tailor your CV

Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:

  • Supported 12 children with diverse learning needs through 1:1 interventions, improving engagement levels by 85% over 6-month placement
  • Facilitated small group activities for 6 pupils with behavioural challenges, implementing positive reinforcement strategies that reduced incidents by 60%
  • Collaborated with 4 experienced SEN professionals to develop individualised learning plans, contributing to 90% of pupils meeting their termly targets

Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.

NEW
AI cover letter

Your cover letter is ready

We've drafted a cover letter for Academics. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.

Letter preview — tailored to Academics

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant position at your Outstanding Special School in Islington. As a recent Psychology graduate, I am eager to begin my career supporting young people with special educational needs and believe this role offers the perfect foundation for my professional development.

My background in Psychology has provided me with theoretical knowledge of child development and behavioural patterns, which I am excited to apply in a practical SEN setting. I am particularly drawn to the opportunity for 1:1 and small group support, where I can make a meaningful difference to pupils' academic, social, and emotional progress.

Get my personalised letter — free

Free signup, no card needed. Export to PDF/Word requires a £1.99 trial (14 days).

SpeedCV exclusive
SpeedCV AI

Interview questions

10 questions generated from this advert.

Technical

  • How would you adapt learning materials for a child with autism spectrum disorder?
  • What strategies would you use to support a pupil with ADHD during group activities?
  • How would you recognise signs of sensory overload in a special needs classroom?
  • What approaches would you take to encourage communication in non-verbal pupils?
  • How would you implement behaviour management techniques for children with challenging behaviours?

Behavioural

  • Tell me about a time when you had to show patience in a challenging situation
  • Describe a situation where you had to adapt your communication style for different audiences
  • Give an example of when you worked as part of a team to achieve a common goal
  • Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new quickly
  • Describe a situation where you showed empathy and understanding towards someone in difficulty
SpeedCV AINEW

STAR answer examples

Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.

1Question

Tell me about a time when you had to show patience in a challenging situation

During my university placement at a community centre, I worked with a 9-year-old boy with autism who became distressed during group activities. Initially, he would leave the room and refuse to return for 30 minutes. I recognised that rushing him back would increase his anxiety, so I developed a calm-down routine. I would sit quietly nearby, offering him sensory toys and speaking in low, reassuring tones. Over 8 weeks, his recovery time reduced from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes, and he began participating in 90% of activities. This taught me that patience and consistency are essential when supporting children with additional needs.
2Question

Describe a situation where you had to adapt your communication style for different audiences

While volunteering at a local youth club, I supported 15 children aged 8-16 with varying communication needs. Some children responded well to verbal instructions, while others needed visual cues or physical demonstrations. For one 12-year-old with processing difficulties, I learned to break instructions into 3 simple steps and use picture cards. For teenagers, I adopted a more collaborative approach, asking for their input on activities. This flexibility resulted in 95% engagement across all age groups and helped me understand that effective communication requires adapting to individual needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Similar jobs

View all