SEND Teaching Assistant SEN School

Position: SEND Teaching Assistant – SEN School
Location: Greater London

Some Teaching Assistant roles are primarily about helping children complete their work.

This role starts with understanding the child.

Rising Hope Education is urgently recruiting two Specialist SEND Teaching Assistants to join established specialist SEN schools across Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge from the beginning of September.

These are full-time, long-term positions supporting primary-aged pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.

Working within a specialist school is very different from simply providing additional support in a mainstream classroom.

A successful day isn't always measured by how much work a child has completed.

Sometimes it's helping a pupil communicate what they need.

Sometimes it's recognising the early signs of dysregulation before behaviour escalates.

Sometimes it's successfully navigating a difficult transition, encouraging a child to attempt something independently, or simply becoming the trusted and predictable adult that allows them to feel safe enough to engage.

What will you be doing?

You'll work alongside teachers, experienced SEND professionals and other support staff to provide consistent, individualised support throughout the school day.

Depending on the pupils and class, your responsibilities may include:

* Supporting pupils with autism and associated communication needs

* Helping children access learning at an appropriate level

* Supporting pre-verbal or non-speaking pupils to communicate

* Using visual communication, structured routines, PECS, Now & Next or similar approaches where appropriate

* Supporting sensory and emotional regulation

* Recognising behaviour as a potential form of communication

* Helping pupils manage transitions between activities and environments

* Supporting the development of social interaction and positive relationships

* Encouraging independence rather than creating reliance on adult support

* Providing consistent boundaries and predictable responses

* Supporting pupils during periods of dysregulation

* Working closely with teachers and other professionals to follow individual support plans

* Recording and communicating relevant observations and progress

* Supporting personal care where required by an individual pupil

* Maintaining high standards of safeguarding, dignity and professionalism throughout the school day

The person we're looking for

Experience with in SEND would be extremely valuable, particularly if you've previously supported children or young people with:

Autism | Complex Needs | Communication Needs | ADHD | Learning Disabilities | Sensory Needs | SEMH | SLD/PMLD

However, previous school experience isn't essential for every candidate.

We're equally interested in meeting people from backgrounds such as care, support work, residential care, youth work, psychology, mental health, autism services or other people-focused professions who have the characteristics needed to succeed within a specialist environment.

Because ultimately, we can help somebody develop their knowledge and experience.

It's much harder to teach somebody to genuinely care.

You'll need to be someone who can...

Stay calm.
A child becoming dysregulated cannot result in the adult becoming dysregulated too.

Be emotionally resilient.
If you've had a challenging afternoon with a pupil, you need to be able to return the following morning and greet them with exactly the same warmth.

Not take behaviour personally.
You need the curiosity to ask “What is this child communicating?” rather than simply “How do I stop this behaviour?”

Be consistent.
For many children with SEND, predictability and trusted relationships are enormously important.

Know when to step back.
Great SEND support isn't about doing everything for a child. It's about helping them develop the skills and confidence to do more for themselves.

Work as part of a team.
You'll be joining experienced school staff who already understand their pupils. Listening, observing, communicating and following established strategies will be essential.

And above everything else, you'll need to genuinely enjoy working with children and young people with additional needs.

About Rising Hope Education

Rising Hope Education specialises…