Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant – Specialist SEND School Location: Burgess HillHours: Monday–Friday, 8:45am–4:00pmTuesday: 5:00pm finishContract: Term-time onlyRole: Teaching AssistantSalary: Competitive, dependent on experience Are you passionate about supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? We are working with a welcoming and specialist SEND school in Burgess Hill, supporting pupils from early years through to post-16. The school provides highly personalised education and support for young people with a wide range of additional needs. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to make a genuine difference to the lives of young people while developing their experience within a specialist SEND environment. About the Role As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely alongside teachers and other members of the support team to provide educational, social, emotional, physical and personal support to pupils throughout the school day. You will support pupils to: Access learning and participate in classroom activities Develop their communication and social skills Build confidence, independence and self-esteem Develop positive relationships with staff and peers Take part in activities both inside and outside the classroom Overcome barriers to learning and make progress towards their individual goals Develop their personal and life skills Communicate their needs and express themselves in ways that work for them Every pupil is an individual, so no two days will necessarily look the same. You will need to be proactive, adaptable and creative in the way you support pupils. You will work as part of a wider team around the child, alongside experienced teachers, support staff and specialist professionals. The Pupils The school supports young people with a range of complex and additional needs. This can include: Autism Severe and moderate learning difficulties Profound and multiple learning difficulties Communication difficulties Social, emotional and mental health needs Physical and sensory needs Complex additional needs Some pupils may require additional support with communication, emotional regulation, behaviour, personal care and developing their independence. Experience supporting children or young people with communication difficulties is a real advantage, as is experience working with individuals who may display challenging behaviour. You don’t need to have experience with every type of SEND — the most important thing is that you are patient, compassionate, resilient and willing to learn. What We’re Looking For We’re looking for someone who is: Caring, patient and genuinely passionate about working with young people Interested in developing a career within SEND Confident working as part of a wider team Adaptable and able to respond to individual pupil needs Positive, encouraging and proactive Able to build strong, trusting relationships with pupils Reliable and committed Comfortable supporting pupils with a range of additional needs Experienced in supporting individuals with communication difficulties – desirable Experienced in supporting individuals who may display challenging behaviour – desirable Willing to get involved and take a hands-on approach to supporting pupils Previous SEND experience is desirable, but the right attitude and willingness to learn are equally important. Why Join This School? This is an opportunity to join a supportive and specialist environment where every pupil is treated as an individual. You will gain valuable experience working with a wide range of SEND needs and have the opportunity to develop your skills alongside experienced education and specialist staff. If you’re looking for a role where you can build meaningful relationships, develop your SEND experience and genuinely make a difference every day, we’d love to hear from you. Best Fit, Every Time. How to Apply If you’re interested in this opportunity, please get in touch with Pink Tile Education to register and discuss the role further. The advertised daily rate is inclusive of 12.07% PAYE holiday pay. We work closely with our schools and candidates to ensure the Best Fit, Every Time. All candidates are subject to our usual safeguarding and compliance checks, including an enhanced DBS check and references.