SEN Teaching Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
Hourly Rate: £14.30
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, Term Time Only
Contract Type: Temporary (with potential for long-term or permanent opportunities)
We work with inclusive and welcoming specialist SEN schools in and around Portsmouth, who are looking to appoint a proactive and compassionate Teaching Assistant (LSA) to join their dedicated staff team. This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people with additional needs.
The SEN schools that we work with cater for a mix of Primary and Secondary aged students, with varied needs to include Autism, ADHD, Speech and Language needs, global delay, mental health needs, and some with physical difficulties.
Key Responsibilities:-
Provide academic and emotional support to pupils with Special Needs in both 1:1 and small group settings.
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Support the delivery of personalised learning plans and assist in implementing Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
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Encourage pupil engagement by creating a safe, inclusive, and positive learning environment.
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Work closely with teachers, therapists, and the wider school team to support individual pupil progress.
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Previous experience working with children or young people (particularly in education or SEN)
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A calm, patient, and adaptable approach to supporting children with diverse and complex needs.
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Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills, with a strong resilient nature.
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A strong commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of pupils.
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Willingness to complete relevant training, including SEN-specific CPD.
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Competitive hourly rate of £14.30, paid weekly via PAYE.
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A dedicated consultant offering personalised support throughout your placement.
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Access to a wide range of free and subsidised training, including Autism Awareness, Team Teach, and Safeguarding.
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Opportunities for long-term placements and professional development within SEN education.
If you are motivated to take on a new challenge, please do express your interest by applying today!
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Highlight your SEN experience prominently as this role specifically requires working with Autism, ADHD, and Speech and Language needs
📊 Quantify your impact: 'Supported 8 pupils with EHCPs, improving engagement by 65%'
🌐 Emphasise your safeguarding knowledge as the advert mentions DfE statutory guidance compliance
🎯 Showcase your 1:1 and small group experience as these are key delivery methods mentioned
🤝 Demonstrate your collaborative approach with teachers and therapists as teamwork is essential
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:
- •Implemented EHCPs for 12 pupils with Autism and ADHD, achieving 78% improvement in personalised learning targets over 2 terms
- •Delivered 1:1 Speech and Language interventions to 6 Primary pupils, resulting in 45% increase in communication confidence scores
- •Collaborated with 4 therapists and 8 teachers to support complex needs pupils, maintaining 95% attendance rates across small group sessions
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Letter preview — tailored to Teaching Personnel
Dear Hiring Manager,
Teaching Personnel's SEN Teaching Assistant role represents exactly the meaningful impact I want to make in special education. My experience supporting pupils with Autism and ADHD, combined with EHCP implementation skills, aligns perfectly with your Portsmouth schools' requirements for 1:1 and small group interventions.
My background in SEN education has equipped me with the patience and adaptability essential for supporting diverse complex needs, from Speech and Language difficulties to mental health challenges across Primary and Secondary settings.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you implement an EHCP for a pupil with Autism and ADHD?
- ›What strategies would you use for supporting Speech and Language development?
- ›How do you adapt learning materials for pupils with global delay?
- ›What safeguarding procedures would you follow if concerned about a pupil?
- ›How would you support a pupil experiencing mental health difficulties?
Behavioural
- ›Describe a time when you had to adapt your approach for a challenging pupil
- ›How do you handle situations when a pupil becomes distressed or overwhelmed?
- ›Tell me about a time you worked as part of a multidisciplinary team
- ›How do you maintain your resilience when working with complex needs?
- ›Describe how you would build rapport with a non-verbal pupil
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Describe a time when you had to adapt your approach for a challenging pupil
How do you handle situations when a pupil becomes distressed or overwhelmed?