Teaching Assistant SEN

We're looking for a caring and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join our team, supporting students in their learning, development, and wellbeing. In this role, you will work closely with teachers, supporting students both one to one and in small groups to help create an inclusive, engaging classroom where every student feels valued and supported. You'll play a key role in promoting positive behaviour, building strong relationships, and supporting those with additional needs to deliver tailored support.

The ideal candidate will be adaptable and proactive, confident in supporting a range of learning needs, and committed to promoting inclusion and positive behaviour. As a Disability Confident employer, we want to ensure everyone can perform at their best when applying to work with us.

• Support pupils to engage with teacher-led learning activities and make progress with their learning.
• Work with the class teacher to support planned programmes of work and learning activities.
• Observe pupils' learning and progress and provide relevant feedback to teachers.
• Prepare and maintain learning resources, classroom materials and visual supports appropriate to pupils' needs.
• Implement strategies arising from SALT, occupational therapy, clinical and behaviour support.
• Promote inclusion and respond appropriately to individual pupil needs.
• Support positive behaviour, engagement and wellbeing, including recording and reporting behavioural incidents where required.
• Provide for pupils' welfare, safety and personal care, which may include intimate care, first aid and the administration of medicines in accordance with training and procedures.
• Support pupils during break and lunchtimes and use activities and play to encourage learning and positive interaction.
• Work positively with parents and carers to support effective home-school relationships.
• Contribute to pupil profiles, risk assessments and behaviour support plans.
• Follow safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, confidentiality and data protection requirements, reporting concerns appropriately.

• Level 2 or equivalent qualifications in English and Maths.
• Experience of working with primary-age pupils or young people.
• Experience of working with pupils with complex needs.
• Good observation and assessment skills, including the ability to produce clear written observations.
• An understanding of how appropriate language and core vocabulary can support pupils.
• A calm, caring and positive approach.
• Effective positive behaviour management skills.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Good organisational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise your workload.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team while also using initiative when required.
• A flexible and adaptable approach and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• A strong commitment to the wellbeing, safety and safeguarding of children and young people.

Horizons Alternative Provision Academy is an Alternative Education provision for young people ranging from 5-16 years old. We support learners who have been permanently excluded from mainstream settings and provide preventative support to those who are at risk of permanent exclusion. Additionally, we support those that unintentionally exclude themselves from education and children who cannot access school for medical reasons. We are a multi-site organisation which includes our Primary provisions, based at Great Hollands Primary School in Bracknell and College Road in Reading, and Secondary provision, based at Cranbury Road in Reading.

We have Outreach teams that provide specialist support within schools, a tutoring service, offer vocational courses in Hair & Beauty and Multi-skills and run a Hospital Teaching Service based at Royal Berkshire Hospital who provide education to children on short and long term stays. Horizons Alternative Provision Academy is a fast paced, energetic setting where we pride ourselves on a strong team ethic, always working together to create a nurturing and supportive setting for our student's alternative pathway to success.

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800 staff and 5,000 students across eleven schools, including primary, secondary, special and alternative…