Senior Teaching Assistant
Location: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Position: Senior Teaching Assistant
Start Date: ASAP
Contract: Full-Time, Term Time Only
Salary: Up to £21,762 (dependent on experience)
We are working on behalf of a dynamic and inclusive primary school based in Aylesbury, seeking a Senior Teaching Assistant to join the team. The school supports a diverse range of pupils with complex needs, including profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), severe and moderate learning difficulties (SLD and MLD), and a significant proportion of pupils with an additional diagnosis of an autistic spectrum condition (ASC).
This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated and experienced Teaching Assistant who is passionate about supporting children with special educational needs (SEN) and making a positive impact in their educational journey.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide high-quality support to pupils with a broad range of complex needs, working 1:1 or in small groups to facilitate learning and development.
- Collaborate with teachers, the SENCO, and other professionals to implement Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and ensure that pupils' learning experiences are tailored to their specific needs.
- Assist with the development of communication strategies for pupils with non-verbal or limited communication abilities, including the use of PECS, Makaton, or other communication aids.
- Support the physical, emotional, and social needs of pupils, including personal care, feeding, and mobility, where necessary.
- Act as a role model and mentor to other Teaching Assistants, providing guidance and support to ensure consistency in delivering high-quality care and learning.
- Monitor and record pupils' progress, providing feedback to teachers and contributing to reports for parents and external agencies.
- Help manage challenging behaviours using positive behaviour strategies, and ensure a safe and nurturing learning environment for all pupils.
What We're Looking For:
- Significant experience working with children with a range of SEN, ideally within a school setting.
- A thorough understanding of strategies for supporting children with profound, severe, and moderate learning difficulties, as well as autism spectrum conditions.
- Experience using communication aids such as PECS, Makaton, or similar systems.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to guide and support less experienced staff members.
- A patient, compassionate, and resilient approach, with a genuine passion for supporting children with complex needs.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team, including therapists, teachers, and parents.
What We Offer:
- A supportive and inclusive school environment that values the contributions of every staff member.
- Opportunities for ongoing professional development, including SEN-specific training.
- The chance to make a real difference in the lives of children with complex and additional needs.
- A welcoming and collaborative team committed to creating a positive learning environment for all pupils.
How to Apply:
If you are an experienced and passionate SEN Teaching Assistant looking to take the next step in your career, we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a cover letter.
We are a premier education recruitment agency dedicated to serving primary schools across the UK. We specialize in connecting passionate and qualified educators with schools in need of their expertise. Our mission is to support primary education by ensuring that every classroom is staffed with capable and inspiring teachers who are committed to fostering a nurturing and effective learning environment.
If this position isn't quite what you are looking for, please still get in touch to discuss other available roles. If you also know of someone else who may be interested, earn extra money with our referral bonus, up to £250!
If you have not received a response within 7 working days, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. For other available positions please refer to our website.
Dunbar Education is committed to the highest standards of safeguarding to ensure the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, to share this commitment. To adhere with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all registrations will be required to fill out our application form in, to receive work. This will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS disclosure and satisfactory references. Dunbar Education is an equal opportunities employer and recognises the value of and seeks to achieve a diverse workforce in schools. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. Dunbar Education is a member of ASPCo compliance plus, for more information please refer to our recruitment & selection policy statement.
