SEND Teaching Assistants / Learning Support Assistants

Empowering Learning are currently working with a number of schools in Surrey / South West London who are looking to appoint SEND Teaching Assistants for a variety of day-to-day, short term and long term bookings.

Special Needs Teaching Assistants support students with special educational needs (SEND) in the classroom as directed by an SEND teacher in order to help pupils succeed with their learning.

It takes a very special person to work with pupils with learning difficulties. Class sizes can be as small and there is a high ratio of LSA support. SLD/PMLD schools have pupils with complex needs, there may be pupils with degenerative illnesses, those who are completely non-verbal and communicate using basic signing tools like Makaton or through a series of lights and clickers. There may be pupils at the high end of the autism spectrum or with Cerebral Palsy. Ability levels can vary considerably. You'll be working with other professionals within the school, e.g. a nurse, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, etc.

Your duties could include:

-assisting with pupils' physical needs, including hygiene and feeding, as well as assisting with therapy sessions

-helping with pupils' school work under the supervision of an SEN teacher

-helping pupils increase their confidence, self-esteem and independence

-You will be responsible for promoting inclusion, working according to IEPs and advancing learning, allowing the children you will be working with to make positive progress by removing barriers to learning.

The successful candidate should:

-Have knowledge/interest and experience working with Autism/ASD, ADHD, EBD, SLD, PMLD

-Be able to use positive reinforcement when supporting behaviour difficulties - working with pupils with ADHD this would be an advantage

-Be a patient and positive role model for children

-Knowledge of BSL, Makaton, Team Teach, SPELL/TEACCH would be an advantage.

If you feel that you meet the requirements for these vacancies then please submit your CV along with a brief supporting statement.

Empowering Learning Ltd. are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to show this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations in line with Section 115 of the Police Act 1997. You will also be required to provide 2 professional references covering at least the last 2 years, and complete our online application followed by a video or face to face interview. Empowering Learning Ltd is a committed Equal Opportunities Employer and therefore will not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation