Teaching Assistant Level 4; SEN

About The Role

Contract Type:
Permanent

Working Hours:

Full Time 35 hours per week
Number of Positions: 1
Qualifications

Required:

GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A
* to

C) including English and Maths, Numeracy/literacy skills at a level equivalent to NQF Level 2, NVQ Level 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualification or experience

Start Date:

20th April 2026
Salary: £33,143 - £36,363 per annum

We currently have an exciting opportunity for Teaching Assistant Level 4 (SEN) to join our fantastic central team at Orchard House High School.

This is a Grade 6, permanent post working 35 hours per week, term time only plus 4 weeks (total weeks worked are 42 per annum). The starting salary is £30,700 and the full time equivalent is £33,143.

Orchard House High School is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Teaching Assistant Level 4 (Communication and Learning) to join our dedicated Support for Learning Team. This role is open to both external applicants and current staff who wish to take on a specialist, impactful position within our school community.

The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting pupils with a range of communication and learning needs, ensuring they have the tools, strategies, and opportunities to thrive both academically and socially. In addition to providing high‑quality in‑class support, the role includes:

• Delivering regular lesson cover for teachers’ PPA.
• Planning, delivering, and evaluating Wave 1, 2, and 3 communication‑focused interventions.
• Overseeing communication assessments (e.g., TALC, phonics assessments) and implementing first‑response speech and language strategies.
• Using approaches based on Elklan, AAC systems, visual supports, and other evidence‑informed practices.
• Working collaboratively with class teams, the Support for Learning team, Speech and Language Therapists, and other external professionals to ensure consistent, high‑quality provision.

We are looking for a practitioner who is reflective, confident, and passionate about improving outcomes for pupils with complex communication profiles. You will contribute significantly to building a communication‑rich environment across Orchard House High School.

• Work with groups and individual pupils to deliver high‑quality learning experiences, including therapy‑led programmes and interventions aligned with EHCP outcomes.
• Support the accurate assessment and tracking of pupils’ communication and learning needs using specialist tools and frameworks.
• Plan and deliver targeted 1:1, small‑group, and in‑class interventions to develop communication, language, and cognition.
• Provide reliable, well‑organised PPA cover, delivering engaging learning under the guidance of teaching staff.
• Promote independence, employ a wide range of communication strategies, and celebrate progress towards self‑reliance.
• Contribute to a consistent, whole‑school approach to communication and learning.
• Maintain detailed intervention records, evaluate impact, and share outcomes with the Support for Learning leads.

To find out more about the full responsibilities of the role and/or to ensure you meet the essential criteria, please review the attached job description.

A practitioner who is reflective, confident, and passionate about improving outcomes for pupils with complex communication profiles. You will contribute significantly to building a communication‑rich environment across Orchard House High School.

Great schools thrive because of the great people in them. We invest in our staff to achieve their full potential and offer a range of benefits including.

• High quality CPD for all roles
• Bupa Level 1 Health Plan – annual cash back allowance for a range of everyday health care expenses
• Generous Pension Contribution – over 26% for teachers and over 17% for support staff
• Good holidays – teachers as per School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document; non‑teachers receive 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days with 5 years’ service
• Cycle scheme – save up to 39% on a bike and accessories and get Strava for free
• Employee Assistance Programmes – including access to…