Sen Teaching Assistant

Location: Oldham
Agency: Teaching Personnel
Start Date: ASAP

Teaching Personnel is seeking a confident, proactive, and resilient graduate to join a supportive SEN secondary school in Oldham as a Teaching Assistant. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to build a long-term career in education, psychology, special educational needs (SEN), or child development.

The school supports pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), catering to a diverse range of needs including Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (CLDD), Autism, and Sensory Processing Difficulties. Many students may also experience associated social, emotional, and behavioural challenges. A strong focus is placed on personalised learning, ensuring every pupil receives tailored support to help them thrive.

This role is ideal for someone passionate about supporting young people’s academic progress, emotional wellbeing, and personal development.

About the Role

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers, therapists, support staff, and families to deliver consistent, nurturing, and individualised support.

You will contribute to creating a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment where students can build communication skills, develop confidence, and progress at their own pace.

A key part of this role is recognising that behaviour is a form of communication. You will apply positive behaviour support strategies and a trauma-informed approach to promote emotional regulation, consistency, and dignity for every pupil.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support to students with PMLD, CLDD, Autism, sensory needs, and behavioural challenges in line with their EHCPs
• Deliver 1:1 and small group interventions, adapting learning to meet individual needs
• Use communication tools such as PECS, visual timetables, and sensory strategies to enhance engagement
• Identify triggers and early signs of dysregulation, using effective de-escalation techniques
• Support pupils through both calm and challenging situations, ensuring safety and consistency
• Help maintain a structured, accessible, and stimulating classroom environment
• Encourage independence, resilience, and communication through positive relationships
• Provide personal care and mobility support where required

Requirements

Essential:

• Confident, proactive, and able to take initiative
• Patient, adaptable, and emotionally resilient
• Strong understanding of behaviour as a form of communication
• Ability to remain calm in challenging situations
• Comfortable working within a multidisciplinary team and following care plans
• Willingness to support personal care needs
• Full-time availability and commitment to a long-term role

Desirable:

• Experience supporting individuals with PMLD, CLDD, Autism, sensory needs, or complex behaviours
• Team Teach training (or willingness to undertake training)
• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed practice, or positive behaviour support

What Teaching Personnel Offer

• Long-term, full-time roles across a range of schools
• Dedicated support from a specialist SEN recruitment team
• Competitive weekly pay
• Ongoing professional development, including behaviour management and Team Teach training
• The opportunity to make a real and lasting impact on young people’s lives

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.
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