Teaching Assistant

⭐ SEN 1:1 Teaching Assistant – Full-Time, Long-Term ⭐
Location: Ormskirk
Start Date: ASAP
Contract: Full-time, long-term
Hours: Monday–Friday, term‑time only
Pay: £14.30–£15.50 per hour (dependent on experience & qualifications)

Are you a compassionate, resilient and relationship‑driven Teaching Assistant looking for a rewarding long‑term role?
Do you have the specialist skills needed to support children with complex backgrounds, diagnosed SEN, SEMH needs or PDA profiles?

We are seeking a highly skilled 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistant to join a supportive and nurturing primary school in Ormskirk. This is a vital long‑term position supporting children who may have:

• Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) needs
• Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Complex trauma or challenging home circumstances
• Possible Looked After Child (LAC) status
• Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) characteristics
• Communication and interaction needs, including non‑verbal profiles

About the Role
As a 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide tailored, relationship‑based support for a child with complex needs
• Implement trauma‑informed and attachment‑aware strategies
• Support children with communication difficulties, including non‑verbal learners
• Use SEN‑specific strategies to support emotional regulation and sensory needs
• Engage PDA learners through low‑demand, child‑led approaches
• Work collaboratively with the SENCO, teaching team, pastoral staff and external agencies
• Build trust, consistency and a stable relationship to enable progress

Highly Desirable Qualifications & Training

ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
Experience delivering emotional literacy interventions, supporting anxiety, self‑esteem and emotional regulation.

Speech & Language Support (SALT)
Including experience with:

• Speech and language intervention
• PECS, Makaton, visuals or AAC
• Supporting communication delay or language processing needs

Non-Verbal or Communication-Based Support
Experience supporting pupils who are:

• Non-verbal
• Using AAC or sensory communication tools
• Selectively mute or have significant communication barriers

Additional SEN/SEMH Training
Such as:

• Team Teach / de-escalation
• Trauma‑informed practice
• Autism awareness & PDA strategies
• Attachment and ACEs training

Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience supporting SEN, SEMH, trauma or behavioural needs
• Strong emotional intelligence, patience and resilience
• Excellent de‑escalation and behaviour‑support skills
• A relationship‑centred, consistent approach
• Creativity in engaging hard‑to‑reach pupils
• Understanding of PDA and child‑led, low‑demand methods
• A genuine passion for helping vulnerable children thrive

What We Offer

• A long‑term, stable placement in a supportive Ormskirk primary school
• Ongoing support from an experienced SENCO and pastoral team
• Competitive hourly pay with an April cost-of-living increase
• Access to high‑quality CPD!
• A dedicated consultant (Morgan!) supporting you throughout

How to Apply
If you are committed, nurturing and ready to make a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply with a full and up‑to‑date CV.

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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