Teaching Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
A SEN college in Sutton is seeking a dedicated individual to support students aged 16+ with their communication, social skills, and physical development. This is a full-time role (Monday to Thursday) starting immediately, with the opportunity for a permanent contract.
The Role-
Support: Work 1:1 with students to improve their speech, motor skills, and social interactions.
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Curriculum: Assist in a variety of sessions, including swimming, music, art, sports, and cooking.
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Environment: Work within small classes of 5-8 students, focusing on essential life skills.
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Collaboration: Partner with therapy teams, including speech therapists and animal-assisted therapy.
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Commitment: Applicants must be able to commit to the role until at least December 2026.
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Experience: Previous experience working with children or young adults in the UK within the last 3 years is required.
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References: Candidates must provide satisfactory professional references covering their recent work or training history.
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Qualities: A patient, positive, and encouraging approach is essential to help students engage with learning and their peers.
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Training: Access to ongoing professional development and on-the-job training.
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Location: The college is centrally located in Sutton and is easily accessible via public transport.
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Career Growth: This is a long-term position offering a stable path into a permanent education career.
Reeson Education:
Reeson Education is England's Premier Recruitment Agency. Established in 2006 by experienced teachers, education professionals and recruitment specialists, we have built our business and reputation on the cores values of honesty, integrity and excellence.
We care about education and the provision of education and have established an excellent reputation with schools and teachers alike.
At Reeson Education we work closely with a large network of Nurseries, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Colleges across England. Our client base provides us with an abundance of available daily supply, long term and permanent opportunities across all age groups in all areas of London.
Reeson Education is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to the highest standards of safeguarding and the promotion of the welfare of children, young people and adults.
Please note, where a salary or daily rate range is stated, the higher rate applies to candidates who meet the enhanced experience, training or qualification requirements specified within the advert. All daily/hourly rates quoted are inclusive of holiday pay at 12.07%
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 supporting 16+ students with special educational needs
📊 Quantify your 1:1 support experience: "Supported 12 SEN students individually, improving communication skills by 40%"
🌐 Emphasise your multi-disciplinary collaboration skills as you'll work with speech therapists and animal-assisted therapy teams
🎯 Showcase experience in life skills teaching including swimming, music, art, and cooking as these are core curriculum areas
🤝 Demonstrate your long-term commitment capability as the role requires availability until December 2026
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 SEN support to 15 students aged 16-19, improving communication skills through targeted speech therapy assistance over 18 months
- •Collaborated with 4 speech therapists and animal-assisted therapy teams to design individualised learning plans for students with complex needs
- •Led life skills sessions including swimming and cooking for small SEN classes of 6 students, achieving 85% engagement rates
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Letter preview — tailored to Reeson Education
Dear Hiring Manager,
Reeson Education's SEN Teaching Assistant role in Sutton perfectly aligns with my passion for supporting young adults with special educational needs. Your focus on 1:1 communication development and life skills teaching through swimming, music, and cooking sessions matches exactly the holistic approach I believe transforms student outcomes.
My background in SEN support has equipped me with the patience and adaptability essential for working with 16+ students who require individualised learning approaches. I am fully committed to the long-term nature of this position through December 2026.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you adapt communication techniques for students with varying speech and language needs?
- ›What strategies would you use to support motor skills development in 16+ SEN students?
- ›How do you collaborate effectively with speech therapists and other therapy professionals?
- ›What experience do you have delivering life skills sessions like cooking or swimming to SEN students?
- ›How would you manage challenging behaviours in small SEN classes of 5-8 students?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to show exceptional patience with a challenging student
- ›Describe a situation where you had to adapt your teaching approach for a student with special needs
- ›Give an example of how you've worked collaboratively with other professionals in an educational setting
- ›Tell me about a time you helped a student achieve a breakthrough in their learning
- ›Describe how you maintain positivity when working with students who progress slowly
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to show exceptional patience with a challenging student
Describe a situation where you had to adapt your teaching approach for a student with special needs