Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated, adaptable, and resilient Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teaching Assistant to join a supportive secondary school in Preston for the full 2026/2027 academic year.

In the secondary environment, students face unique challenges navigating multiple subjects, classrooms, and social dynamics. You will provide targeted 1:1 and small-group support to a student with an active Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), helping them access the curriculum, develop emotional resilience, and build vital independent life skills. Working under the guidance of the school's SENCO, you will be a crucial bridge between the student and their subject teachers.

We believe in ethical recruitment and financial transparency; therefore, this position pays directly to the NJC scale from Day 1, ensuring your experience and qualifications are fairly compensated from your very first day in school.

• Provide tailored 1:1 and small-group support across various academic subjects, helping the student comprehend tasks and stay engaged.

• Assist the student with transition times, organisation, and navigating the secondary school environment between periods.

• Modify and differentiate learning materials in real-time to match the student's specific cognitive, communication, or sensory needs.

• Implement positive behaviour strategies and support emotional regulation, helping the student manage anxiety or sensory overload.

• Track, record, and report on the student's progress against their specific EHCP outcomes, providing feedback for annual reviews.

• Promote independence and social inclusion, ensuring the student develops peer relationships while feeling secure.

• Experience: Proven experience supporting young people (aged 11-16) with Special Educational Needs (SEN), such as Autism (ASD), ADHD, SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health), or Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD).

• Curriculum Knowledge: Good literacy and numeracy skills to confidently support a secondary-level curriculum.

• Attributes: Strong communication skills, exceptional patience, and an understanding of adolescent development. You should be able to balance offering support with fostering independence.

• Qualifications: Level 2 or 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (or equivalent experience) is highly desirable. Training in de-escalation strategies or specific SEN interventions is a distinct advantage.

• Compliance: An enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or a willingness to process a new one) and an absolute commitment to rigorous safeguarding standards.

• Fair Pay: Direct alignment with the NJC Scale from Day 1, ensuring financial transparency and fair compensation.

• Stability: A guaranteed full academic year contract running from September 2026 through to July 2027.

• Work-Life Balance: Term-time only hours, matching standard secondary school holidays.

• Sector Support: Access to ongoing professional development and support from a consultant dedicated to Lancashire's secondary education sector.

If you are a passionate SEN professional ready to make a tangible difference in a young person's secondary education, we want to hear from you.

Please click 'Apply Now' to submit your updated CV, or contact our Secondary Education Recruitment Team directly to discuss this opportunity.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of youth. All candidates will be subject to strict compliance procedures, including enhanced DBS and reference checks.