SEN Teaching Assistant

Silverwood School is an inspirational and forward-thinking maintained special school based in the heart of Wiltshire and spread across three campuses. Our school is dedicated to supporting pupils aged 4-19 years with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Our mission is to enhance opportunities, enjoyment and empower every pupil to reach their full potential. Our vision is ambitious ‘Building Community; Inspiring Learning’, to create a truly integrated and inclusive system of outstanding education for all young people with SEND needs.

We are proud to be a Values Based Education (VBE) School and place our shared values at the heart of everything we do. Our values are principles that guide all our actions, decisions and relationships. At Silverwood School, we have chosen cooperation, courage, honesty, perseverance, respect and kindness as our six shared values. VBE goes beyond learning what our values mean; it encompasses living and experiencing our values every day.

Joining our team means becoming part of a passionate, driven and skilled group of professionals who pride themselves in creating an environment where innovation and leadership are central to improving education.

• We offer a bespoke and tailored package of training opportunities to work with external professionals, alongside ongoing CPD opportunities.
• All staff upon joining attend a structured, well-supported and informative induction programme.
• Our staff are given freedom to teach and tailor lessons to meet pupils’ individual needs and are not constrained in the way mainstream schools can be.
• All staff have a strong sense of shared purpose and vision, clarity of values and use these daily to guide our actions, interactions and decision making and are at the heart of everything we do.
• Working here isn’t always easy but it is deeply rewarding. Every day brings opportunities to learn, connect and change lives.

What our staff are saying:

• “Silverwood has a real sense of community and we are forever evolving and changing as a school. It’s a really exciting and inspirational place to work with fantastic people in every department and level in the school.”
• “I absolutely love my job and look forward to coming into school every day. I love the team I work with and fully trust and respect them all. They support me 100% as I do them.”

Key responsibilities:

• Provide tailored support to pupils with a range of SEND needs and disabilities.
• Support children attending water confidence sessions in the onsite hydrotherapy pool.
• Support outdoor learning lessons in our extensive outdoor areas and work with school animals to enhance learning and engagement.
• Promote positive behaviour and support the development of pupils' social and emotional skills.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute to a shared team ethos.
• Foster an environment rich in sensory experiences and structured exploration.
• Liaise with teachers, SENCO, behaviour support team and designated safeguarding leads to ensure consistent and high-quality support.

The ideal candidate will:

• Experience of working with children with SEN is advantageous but not essential.
• Have a calm, patient and resilient approach with a genuine passion for supporting young learners.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with pupils, families and professionals.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Be imaginative, patient and empathetic in responding to pupil needs.
• Support and value outdoor learning and sensory-based play.
• Ability to work well as part of a team, while also using initiative when necessary.

SALARY

Wiltshire Pay scale F9 – F11 £14.13 - £14.82 per hour. Salary at F9 for 30hrs a week approx. £19,007.19 pa.

TERMS

Start and finish time: 8.50am – 3.25pm.

Contracts available:

• 5 days, 30 hours a week with a 40-minute unpaid lunch. All contracts are Term-time plus Inset days. Every contract includes a 25 min a week payment to be used on a fortnightly Wednesday afterschool 50 min training session.

Safeguarding Statement:

Silverwood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.