SEN Teaching Assistant

SEN Teaching Assistant
Specialist Additional Learning Needs School

Location: Cardiff
Pay: £465–£550 per week, depending on experience
Hours: Monday to Friday, school hours
Start Date: 2nd November 2026
Contract: Full-time, term-time only

Make a Real Difference Every Day

Are you passionate about supporting children with autism and additional learning needs to communicate, grow, develop their independence and flourish?

Teaching Personnel is recruiting a dedicated, compassionate and resilient SEN Teaching Assistant to join a welcoming and highly supportive specialist school in Cardiff from 2nd November 2026.

The school provides a specialist learning environment for children aged 4–11 with autism spectrum conditions, including pupils with significant sensory, social communication and learning needs.

At the heart of the school is a child-centred approach. Every pupil's provision is shaped around their individual strengths, needs and development, with a strong focus on helping children become as independent as possible and develop the skills they need for everyday life.

The school places particular importance on communication, independence, social skills and emotional regulation, creating the foundations that enable pupils to access learning and participate more fully in school life.

What You'll Be Doing

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will become an important part of a team dedicated to helping pupils thrive.

Your role may include:

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support

• Supporting pupils with autism and a range of sensory, communication and learning needs

• Helping pupils develop functional communication and social skills

• Encouraging independence and practical life skills

• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour

• Helping pupils manage sensory needs within a supportive environment

• Supporting personalised learning activities based on individual strengths and needs

• Facilitating engaging, interactive and thematic learning activities

• Encouraging socialisation, interaction and positive relationships

• Supporting play-based learning and development

• Working closely with teachers and other members of the school team

• Supporting pupils both inside and outside the classroom

• Providing personal care support where required

The school uses specialist approaches to sensory support, including sensory assessment and intervention designed to help pupils develop emotional regulation strategies and confidence in meeting their individual sensory needs.

A Child-Centred Approach

This is a school where the individual child comes first.

You will be supporting pupils at different stages of development, celebrating small steps as well as significant milestones and helping each child progress at a pace that works for them.

The school's values focus on:

️ Communication – developing functional language and communication
Socialisation – helping children build positive relationships
Interaction – supporting children to connect with the world around them
Play – recognising play as an important foundation for learning

The overall aim is to provide personalised learning experiences that enable every child to communicate, interact, grow and develop to the best of their ability.

⭐ Who We're Looking For

Previous experience working in a school is welcomed but not essential.

This could be an excellent opportunity for candidates with experience in:

• SEN or autism support

• Care or support work

• Youth work

• Residential childcare

• Nursery or childcare settings

• Mental health support

• Sports coaching

• Psychology, education or social care studies

• Supporting individuals with additional needs

• Volunteering with children or vulnerable adults

You may also be considering a future career in teaching, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, social care or specialist education.

What matters most is that you are patient, empathetic, consistent, adaptable and genuinely motivated to help children develop their confidence and independence.

✅ Requirements

To be considered for this role, you must:

• Be aged 18 or over

• Have the right to work in the UK

• Be willing to complete an Enhanced DBS check

• Be willing to register with the Education Workforce Council (EWC)

• Provide professional references

• Complete safeguarding and compliance training

Why Work with Teaching Personnel?

✅ Weekly PAYE pay
✅ Dedicated consultant support
✅ Free and discounted CPD opportunities
✅ Support with DBS and EWC registration
✅ Long-term and permanent opportunities
✅ Valuable specialist autism and SEN experience
✅ Experience within a highly supportive specialist school
✅ Develop practical skills in communication, sensory support and emotional regulation
✅ Excellent preparation for careers in teaching, psychology, therapy, social work and youth support

Ready to Help a Child Flourish?

If you're looking for a role where relationships, communication, wellbeing, independence and individual progress genuinely matter, this could be an excellent opportunity to build your specialist SEN experience.

Apply today with your latest CV and take the next step towards making a meaningful difference in the lives of children with autism and additional learning needs.

Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Teaching Personnel – supporting you to make a difference.

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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