SEN Teaching Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Teaching Assistant in Thurrock
At Engage, we know that a school runs on quality support staff. We’re now looking to increase our pool of SEN Teaching Assistants we can offer to schools in and around Thurrock .We have a variety of Teaching Assistant positions available, to start immediately.
The students have the following learning needs:
- Autism
- Social Emotional Mental Health difficulties
- Speech, Language Communication Needs
We would love to hear from graduates or those with transferable skills who have an interest in working with special needs children.
About the role:
- 1:1 support for special needs and lower-ability pupils
- Supporting students with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Specific Learning Difficulties, EBD and SEMH
- Supporting students with challenging behaviour
About us:
We are Engage Education, the most trusted education recruitment agency, with professional development and support at our core.
- Get paid in line with national scales (AWR compliant)
- In House PAYE
- Free CPD sessions
- Your own dedicated consultant
- £50 ‘Refer a Friend’ bonus
- Wellbeing support, travel discounts, and retail offers from our partners
How to apply
You can apply for this role below or get in touch with us directly. All applicants require the appropriate qualifications, and all teachers require a formally-recognised teaching qualification.
All candidates must have a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting work. Full assistance provided.
By applying for this role, you are consenting to Engage Education Ltd storing your personal details in our fully encrypted database, in line with the GDPR requirements.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight any SEN experience or training at the top of your CV as the role specifically requires supporting Autism, ADHD, and SEMH needs
📊 Quantify your impact: 'Supported 8 SEN pupils daily, improving engagement by 40%'
🌐 Emphasise transferable skills from other sectors that demonstrate patience and communication abilities
🎯 Mention your DBS status prominently as it's essential for starting work
🤝 Show understanding of challenging behaviour management through specific examples from any relevant experience
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:
- •Provided 1:1 support for 6 pupils with Autism daily, reducing classroom disruptions by 60% through tailored sensory break strategies
- •Implemented SEMH intervention techniques for 12 challenging behaviour cases, achieving 85% improvement in lesson engagement over 8 weeks
- •Supported pupils with speech and language difficulties using Makaton and visual aids, helping 4 students improve communication confidence by 70%
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Engage Education. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Engage Education
Dear Hiring Manager,
Engage Education's commitment to supporting SEN pupils aligns perfectly with my passion for inclusive education, particularly your focus on Autism and SEMH support in Thurrock schools. My background in working with individuals who need additional support, combined with my patient approach to challenging behaviour, makes me well-suited for this Teaching Assistant role.
My background in supporting vulnerable individuals has developed my ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt my communication style to meet diverse needs. I understand the importance of building trust with pupils who may struggle with social interaction or emotional regulation.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you support a child with Autism who becomes overwhelmed in the classroom?
- ›What strategies would you use to help a pupil with ADHD focus during lessons?
- ›How do you adapt communication for children with speech and language needs?
- ›What approaches work best for supporting pupils with dyslexia?
- ›How would you handle a situation where a SEMH pupil becomes distressed?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you showed patience in a challenging situation
- ›Describe a situation where you had to adapt your approach to help someone
- ›Give an example of when you've worked with someone who needed extra support
- ›Tell me about a time you remained calm under pressure
- ›Describe how you've built rapport with someone who was initially reluctant to engage
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you showed patience in a challenging situation
Describe a situation where you had to adapt your approach to help someone