Complex needs Teaching Assistant

Are you an attentive, empathetic, and proactive individual dedicated to supporting children with complex educational and medical needs? Whether you thrive on the daily variation and complete flexibility of day-to-day cover, or want the deep fulfilment and connection of a long-term placement, we have rewarding opportunities tailored to your schedule.

We are currently partnering with specialised SEN provisions, complex needs schools, and designated resource units in Cambridge and across the surrounding South Cambridgeshire area. We are seeking resilient and nurturing Teaching Assistants to support pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), complex health or physical needs, severe learning difficulties (SLD), and multi-sensory impairments.

Whether you are an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant, a healthcare assistant, a residential care worker, or someone with a background in paediatric nursing or therapy support, your core skills are highly valuable in these environments.

• Day-to-Day Cover: Select the exact days you are available each week to fit around your lifestyle or existing commitments. Gain hands-on experience across different specialist provisions in Cambridge while helping schools maintain essential staff-to-pupil ratios.

• Long-Term Opportunities: For those who value routine, we offer placements spanning a term or a full academic year. This allows you to build deep trust with non-verbal or high-dependency pupils, master their individual care plans, and track their holistic developmental progress over time.

• Provide tailored 1:1 or small-group support to pupils with complex physical, medical, sensory, and cognitive requirements.

• Assist with physical support, including manual handling, hoist transfers, positioning, and mobility routines (under professional guidance and school protocols).

• Support pupils' personal care routines, eating, and drinking needs with dignity, respect, and care.

• Facilitate communication using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, Makaton, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), eye-gaze systems, or sensory cues.

• Carry out sensory integration activities, hydrotherapy, or physiotherapy programs in partnership with visiting therapists.

• Maintain a calm, safe, and stimulating classroom environment that encourages independence and active engagement.

• Previous experience working with individuals with PMLD, complex health needs, or severe disabilities (in educational, care, or clinical settings).

• A patient, warm, and highly observant personality with excellent communication skills.

• Practical knowledge of physical handling, personal care support, or specialised equipment (formal Manual Handling or Moving & Handling training is a distinct advantage).

• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to work as part of a close-knit, multidisciplinary team.

• A valid Enhanced DBS check registered on the Update Service (or a willingness to complete one).

• Competitive daily pay rates, processed weekly to reflect your specialised experience.

• A dedicated local consultant with expert knowledge of the SEN and complex needs sector in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

• Full flexibility to manage your schedule on your own terms.

• Access to specialised training and continuous professional development (CPD).

• Direct opportunities to secure long-term contracts or permanent roles within local complex needs settings.

Step into a deeply rewarding educational role today.

How to Apply: Please send your CV and a brief summary of your relevant experience to [email removed] or call [phone removed] for an informal, confidential discussion about our active Complex Needs Teaching Assistant roles in Cambridge.

We are strictly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All candidates will be required to undergo comprehensive vetting, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS disclosure.

experience

Teaching

skills

ability to track progression in attainment,background in youth work,behaviour management,building relationships,classroom management,communication,de-escalation techniques,empathy,experience in administering medication,experience in managing challenging behaviour,experience with autism spectrum disorders,experience with learning difficulties,experience with social emotional mental health,inclusiveness,manual handling,marking,mentor experience,personal care experience,planning,resilience,restraint training,speech and language therapy experience