SEN Teaching Assistants
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
SEN Teaching Assistant - Special Educational Needs School in Canterbury
Must be available 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 is currently seeking resilient, compassionate, and committed SEN Teaching Assistants to join one of our client schools in Canterbury
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 highly desirable.
- 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.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Lead your CV personal statement with direct SEN experience — the advert explicitly prioritises candidates from SLD, PMLD, or ASC settings, so name the specific needs you have supported.
📊 Quantify your impact: e.g. 'Supported 4 pupils with PMLD on a 1:1 basis across 3 EHCP review cycles, contributing to measurable progress in communication targets'.
🎯 Reference EHCP experience explicitly — the advert names EHCP-aligned personalised programmes as a core duty, so highlight any direct involvement in EHCP reviews or target-setting.
🌐 Include your DBS status prominently — note whether you hold a current enhanced DBS on the update service, as this removes a compliance barrier and signals readiness to start ASAP.
🤝 Demonstrate personal care experience — the advert flags this as a requirement; include a brief line in your work history confirming you have provided personal care with dignity and respect in a school or care setting.
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 1:1 EHCP-aligned support to 3 pupils with PMLD and sensory impairments across a full academic year, contributing to measurable progress in 80% of communication targets at annual review.
- •Implemented personalised life skills programmes for 5 pupils with autism spectrum condition, reducing daily transition incidents by 40% through consistent visual schedule use and sensory regulation strategies.
- •Provided personal care and medical support for 4 pupils with complex needs across a 30-week placement, maintaining full compliance with school safeguarding protocols and dignity-in-care standards.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Tradewind Recruitment. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Tradewind Recruitment
Dear Hiring Manager,
Tradewind Recruitment's vacancy for an SEN Teaching Assistant at a specialist Canterbury school is precisely the kind of role I have been seeking — one that demands genuine expertise in supporting pupils with SLD, PMLD, and autism spectrum conditions through EHCP-aligned programmes. The requirement for 1:1 and small group support, alongside personal care provision, reflects the specialist environment where I work most effectively.
My background in SEN support includes working directly with pupils presenting complex and multiple learning difficulties, implementing communication and life skills targets set within EHCPs, and collaborating closely with class teachers and therapists to maintain consistent, nurturing routines. I hold a current enhanced DBS on the update service and am available to begin immediately on a full-time, Monday-to-Friday basis.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How have you adapted a personalised learning programme to meet a pupil's EHCP targets in a specialist SEN setting?
- ›What strategies have you used to support a pupil with autism spectrum condition who is experiencing sensory overload in the classroom?
- ›Can you describe your experience supporting pupils with PMLD, including how you have facilitated communication with non-verbal learners?
- ›How do you maintain accurate records of pupil progress against EHCP outcomes, and how do you share this with the class teacher?
- ›What is your understanding of the difference between SLD and PMLD, and how does this affect your approach to daily support?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you supported a pupil through a particularly challenging episode — what did you do and what was the outcome?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a change in a pupil's needs or routine. How did you manage this?
- ›Give an example of when you worked collaboratively with a therapist or specialist to improve outcomes for a pupil with complex needs.
- ›Tell me about a time you built a trusting relationship with a pupil who initially found it difficult to engage with support staff.
- ›Describe a situation where you had to provide personal care for a pupil. How did you ensure their dignity and comfort throughout?
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you supported a pupil through a particularly challenging episode — what did you do and what was the outcome?
Describe a situation where you had to adapt quickly to a change in a pupil's needs or routine. How did you manage this?
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