Teaching Assistant

Teaching Assistant – Specialist SEND Primary School Location: CrawleyHours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–3:45pmContract: Full-time, term-timeRole: Teaching AssistantDaily Rate: Competitive, dependent on experience Are you passionate about supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)? We are working with a fantastic specialist SEND primary school in Crawley, supporting children with a range of complex additional needs. The school provides a highly personalised approach to learning, with a strong focus on helping every child develop their communication, independence, confidence and life skills. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who wants to make a genuine difference while developing their experience within a specialist SEND setting. About the Role As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers and the wider support team to provide personalised support to pupils throughout the school day. Your role will include: Supporting pupils to access their individualised learning Working 1:1, in small groups and as part of a class team Supporting communication and social development Encouraging pupils to develop independence and confidence Supporting pupils with their emotional and behavioural needs Helping pupils engage in classroom and practical activities Supporting personal care where required Following individual learning, communication and therapy programmes Building positive and trusting relationships with pupils Working closely with teachers and other professionals to support each child’s development The school places a strong emphasis on individualised learning and communication, with pupils supported to communicate in ways that work best for them. This can include signing, symbols, PECS, AAC and other forms of total communication. The Pupils The school supports children with a wide range of complex SEND needs, including: Autism Complex learning difficulties Communication difficulties Physical and sensory needs Profound and multiple learning difficulties Social, emotional and behavioural needs Medical and personal care needs Some pupils may have limited verbal communication and require support using alternative communication methods. The school also has specialist provision for pupils with complex autism, where learning, communication and routines are highly personalised to the individual child. Experience supporting children with communication difficulties, autism or challenging behaviour would be a real advantage. However, you don’t need to have experience with every type of SEND. The school is looking for people with the right attitude, patience and willingness to learn. What We’re Looking For We’re looking for someone who is: Caring, patient and compassionate Passionate about supporting children with additional needs Confident building positive relationships with children Patient and understanding when supporting children who communicate differently Proactive and willing to get involved Adaptable and able to respond to individual needs Comfortable working as part of a wider team Reliable and committed Resilient and able to remain calm in challenging situations Willing to learn and develop their SEND knowledge Previous SEND experience is desirable, particularly experience with autism, communication difficulties or challenging behaviour, but attitude and personality are just as important. You may have worked previously as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, SEN TA, Support Worker, Care Worker, Residential Support Worker, Youth Worker or in another role supporting children or vulnerable individuals. A Truly Specialist Environment This is more than a traditional primary school environment. The school works closely with a Team Around the School, bringing together professionals including Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology, specialist communication staff and nursing support. This means you’ll have the opportunity to develop your understanding of SEND while working alongside experienced professionals who are focused on achieving the best outcomes for each child. If you’re looking for a role where every day is different, relationships really matter and you can see the difference your support makes, this could be a fantastic opportunity for 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.