Student/ Graduate Teaching Assistant in Gloucester

Are you a student or recent graduate looking for meaningful, hands-on experience working with children? Considering a future career in education, psychology, SEN, social work, speech & language therapy, occupational therapy or healthcare? Want a role that makes a real difference — with school-friendly hours and no nights or weekends? This could be the perfect stepping stone.

Axcis is a specialist education recruitment agency focused exclusively on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Every role we offer involves supporting children and young people with additional needs, including autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, physical disabilities and communication challenges.

We are currently recruiting Learning Support Assistants to work in a Special Educational Needs (SEN) school supporting pupils across primary and secondary ages. This role is ideal if you want practical, front-line experience working closely with children in a structured, supportive educational environment.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting students 1:1 or in small groups throughout the school day
• Helping pupils access learning, communication and daily routines
• Encouraging independence, confidence and social development
• Working closely with teachers, therapists and SEN professionals

No prior school experience is required — full support and training are provided.

I work closely with a wide range of schools across Gloucestershire, offering opportunities in primary and secondary schools, Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools (also known as Special Schools), Alternative Provisions, and Post-16 settings. This variety gives you the chance to explore different educational environments and discover what suits you best. Rather than being tied to one setting straight away, you can gain experience across multiple schools, age groups and support needs — an ideal option for students or graduates who want to try new things and build confidence.

Working across different settings allows you to:

• Gain broader hands-on experience with children and young people
• Develop adaptable skills that transfer across education, SEN and care-based careers
• Explore different pathways such as mainstream education, SEN, behaviour support or post-16 learning
• Build a strong CV with varied, relevant experience
• Choose roles that fit around your availability and future plans

There is a high level of flexibility, with opportunities ranging from short-term placements to longer-term roles, full-time, part-time or day-to-day sickness cover. This means you can balance work around studies, training or other commitments, while still gaining valuable, real-world experience in education. Whether you’re looking to test the waters, gain insight before committing to a career path, or simply want varied and meaningful work, these school placements offer the opportunity to learn, grow and make a genuine impact. This is a fantastic setting to learn on the job and gain experience that looks great on a CV or postgraduate application.

The Students You’ll Support:

All students we support have some level of SEN, these may be:

• Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD)
• Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)
• Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASD)
• Sensory impairments (visual or hearing)
• Epilepsy or other medical needs
• Behaviours linked to communication or sensory differences

You’ll never be expected to handle this alone — teamwork and guidance are central to the school’s culture.

Why This Role Is Great for Students & Graduates:

This role offers real-world experience you simply can’t get from a lecture hall:

• Hands-on SEN experience
• Insight into educational and therapeutic settings
• Develop skills in:

• Communication (including non-verbal communication)
• Behaviour support
• Emotional intelligence and resilience
• Working as part of a multidisciplinary team

• Teacher training
• Educational psychology
• SEN careers
• Healthcare and therapy routes

Most importantly — you’ll be doing something that genuinely matters.

Additional Information:

• Hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm (perfect around studies or postgraduate plans)
• Roles: Full-time and part-time available
• Pay: £13.69+ per hour (depending on experience)
• Weekly pay every Friday
• Initially temporary, with potential to become permanent
• Free training through the National College

You’ll Need:

• A Child Only or Child & Adult DBS (can be applied for through Axcis – £57.07)
• Overseas police check if you’ve lived/worked abroad for 6+ months in the last 5 years
• Valid Right to Work in the UK (passport, birth certificate, share code or visa)

If you’re a student or graduate looking to gain meaningful experience, build confidence, and explore a future career in education or SEN — we’d love to hear from you.

This is a temporary position, unless stated otherwise. Axcis is an equal opportunities employer and as such we do not discriminate based on age, gender, disability, race or any other equal opportunities criteria. The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As such, you will be required to provide an up to date DBS, or be prepared to allow Axcis to process one on your behalf, in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines.

If the position you are applying for involves working with children or vulnerable adults, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. Axcis Education is an employment agency offering temporary supply work for daily, short-term and long-term assignments in addition to permanent positions. You must be suitably qualified for the position advertised and be prepared to attend a face to face interview with Axcis to demonstrate your suitability for this role. Salary / Pay Rate will be dependent on your skills and experience.