Special Needs Assistant

Do you want to work with children who love learning, in a school where they are truly at the heart of everything we do?

Are you looking to join a collaborative, supportive staff team where relationships matter and every child is supported to thrive?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, dedicated Special Needs Assistant to join our caring and committed team from September 2026.

This role will involve providing 1:1 support for a child with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) transitioning into Year 3. The child you will be working with is sociable, determined, inquisitive and eager to learn, with strong emerging communication skills and positive relationships with peers. They require support primarily for significant physical and sensory needs, alongside speech, language, social-emotional and self-regulation needs. The child attends a mainstream classroom and thrives when provided with a structured, nurturing and highly individualised approach.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the child to:

• develop expressive and receptive communication skills through modelling, visuals and structured interaction
• engage successfully in classroom learning and play opportunities
• build confidence in social interaction, turn-taking and cooperative play
• develop greater independence in self-care, dressing and daily routines
• access the curriculum through personalised support and adapted resources
• manage transitions and changes to routine through consistent, predictable approaches
• develop emotional regulation strategies and self-awareness
• improve mobility, physical independence and participation through implementation of physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes
• remain safe within the school environment through appropriate supervision and risk awareness.

A key aspect of the role will be implementing agreed strategies from external professionals, maintaining accurate records, monitoring progress and contributing to EHCP reviews and planning meetings. The successful candidate will work closely with teaching staff, the SENDCo, therapists and parents to ensure consistency of support across school and home.

We are looking for someone who:

• is nurturing, patient and kind
• demonstrates high levels of emotional intelligence
• enjoys working with children with a range of additional needs
• can build strong, trusting and consistent relationships
• provides calm, structured and responsive support
• is confident following therapeutic programmes and professional advice
• works effectively as part of a team
• has a positive outlook and good sense of humour
• is organised, observant and able to work independently
• has competence in literacy and numeracy
• preferably has experience supporting children with physical disabilities, speech and language needs, attachment needs, sensory processing differences and/or social and emotional needs

Your responsibilities will include:

• providing 1:1 support to enable access to learning and participation across the school day
• supporting progress towards personalised EHCP outcomes
• implementing speech and language, physiotherapy and occupational therapy recommendations
• supporting the child's mobility, including safe use of specialist equipment and supervision during movement around school
• delivering targeted interventions and structured learning and play activities
• supporting social communication and positive peer interactions
• encouraging emotional regulation using agreed strategies and sensory supports
• preparing and organising learning resources, including visual supports and adapted materials
• supporting self-care, dressing, toileting and independence skills as required
• facilitating rest breaks and sensory regulation activities where appropriate
• maintaining clear communication with teachers, SENDCo, parents and external agencies
• monitoring, recording and reporting progress towards outcomes
• ensuring the safety, wellbeing and dignity of the child at all times.