Graduate Academic Coach

Imagine starting your career in a role where you can make a genuine difference to a child’s life, develop highly sought-after specialist skills, and discover whether teaching or a role in education is the right path for you.

Step Into Teaching is recruiting graduates to join a specialist SEND primary school in Salford (M27), where relationships come first, every achievement matters, and no two days are the same.

• Make a real difference: Support children with additional needs to develop their communication, independence, confidence and love of learning.
• Get paid to gain experience: Earn £500–£530 per week during term time while building practical classroom skills.
• Explore a career in teaching: Gain first-hand experience before committing to teacher training or a longer-term career in education.
• Learn from specialists: Benefit from SEND-specific training, continuing professional development (CPD) and guidance from experienced practitioners.
• Be part of something meaningful: Join a supportive school community where patience, empathy and small steps forward can make a huge difference.

No previous career in teaching? This could be the perfect place to start.

What matters is your willingness to learn, your ability to build positive relationships and your genuine commitment to helping children thrive.

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you’ll work alongside experienced teachers and specialist support staff to help pupils feel safe, included and ready to learn.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Supporting pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including autism, physical needs, severe learning difficulties and complex needs.
• Helping deliver personalised learning activities that reflect each child’s developmental stage and individual needs.
• Building trusting relationships that encourage emotional regulation, confidence and positive behaviour.
• Supporting communication, sensory development, social interaction and independent living skills.
• Helping create a calm, engaging and inclusive classroom environment.
• Working collaboratively with teachers and the wider team to celebrate progress and overcome challenges.

Every child is different. Some achievements may be small steps that others take for granted, but you’ll learn to recognise just how significant they can be.

You could be a great fit if you are:

• A graduate with a bachelor’s degree at 2:2 or above.
• Caring, patient, empathetic and emotionally resilient.
• Enthusiastic about working with children and supporting individual needs.
• Creative and proactive, with the confidence to engage pupils in different ways.
• Calm and consistent when responding to challenging situations.
• A strong communicator who enjoys working as part of a team.
• Open to feedback, eager to develop and committed to making a difference.

Your degree doesn’t have to be in Education. If you’re considering teaching, educational psychology, child development, special educational needs or another career supporting children, this experience could be an excellent next step.

You must be able to commit to the role through to the end of July 2027.

This school is committed to helping its staff grow. You’ll have opportunities to develop your understanding of SEND through specialist training, high-quality CPD and support from experienced practitioners. You may also have opportunities to get involved in training and outreach work supporting pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

You’ll gain valuable insight into the realities…