SEN Teaching Assistant – Care Background Essential | Bury St Edmunds

Make a Difference Every Day – Join Our Specialist SEN Team

Are you currently working in care, support work, residential care, mental health services, or a similar role and looking to transfer your skills into education?

Teaching Personnel is seeking compassionate and dedicated SEN Teaching Assistants to support pupils within specialist educational settings in Bury St Edmunds. This rewarding opportunity is ideal for individuals with a care background who are passionate about helping young people overcome barriers, develop independence and achieve their full potential.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential for this role.

About the Role

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will provide vital support to children and young people with a range of additional needs, including Autism, learning difficulties, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, and complex communication needs.

Many of the students require consistent support, encouragement and positive role models to help them navigate both their educational and personal development. Your experience within care settings will be invaluable in helping students feel safe, supported and understood throughout the school day.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing one-to-one and small group support to students with additional needs.
• Supporting students with emotional regulation, communication and social development.
• Assisting with personal care where required and promoting independence skills.
• Building positive, trusting relationships that help students feel secure and engaged in learning.
• Encouraging positive behaviour and supporting students through challenging situations with patience and understanding.
• Assisting teachers in delivering tailored learning activities that meet individual student needs.
• Supporting the development of life skills, functional literacy and numeracy.
• Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, support staff and families to ensure the best outcomes for students.

Why Your Care Experience Matters

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who have worked in:

• Residential childcare
• Supported living services
• Mental health support
• Youth work
• Care homes
• Learning disability services
• Autism support services
• Healthcare or community care settings

The skills gained in these environments—such as empathy, resilience, behaviour support, communication and safeguarding awareness—are highly transferable and incredibly valuable within specialist education.

What We're Looking For

Successful candidates will:

• Have previous experience working in a care, support or helping profession.
• Hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
• Be patient, compassionate and committed to supporting young people with additional needs.
• Be confident managing challenging behaviours and promoting positive outcomes.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Be adaptable and willing to work within a variety of SEN environments.
• Have a genuine passion for helping children and young people succeed.

What We Offer

• Competitive weekly pay based on your experience and responsibilities.
• Access to Teaching Personnel's extensive CPD Academy and specialist SEN training.
• Ongoing support from a dedicated consultant throughout your placement.
• Opportunities for long-term and permanent positions.
• Simple and efficient online systems for timesheets and administration.
• A rewarding role where you can make a meaningful impact every day.

Apply Today

If you're looking to take your care experience into a rewarding educational setting and want to help transform the lives of children and young people with additional needs, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to join Teaching Personnel as an SEN Teaching Assistant in Bury St Edmunds and start making a real difference from day one.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.