SEND Teaching Assistant in Chatham

At St John’s Church of England Infant School, Chatham, we are a small school with a big heart, where every child is known, valued and encouraged to flourish.

Rooted in our Christian vision, “From the smallest of seeds fed with faith and love, our St John’s family will flourish and grow,” we are committed to providing a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious learning environment for all.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection (March 2024) recognised the school as Good in all areas, highlighting the quality of education, personal development, behaviour and leadership across the school.

Staff at St John’s benefit from being part of a supportive and dedicated team that places relationships, wellbeing and professional development at its core.

If you are looking for a school where you can make a genuine difference, work closely with children and families, and be part of a caring community that strives for excellence, St John’s is the place for you.

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced Teaching Assistant with experience of supporting children with SEND, who is passionate about children’s learning, has a positive attitude and is able to fit in with our hardworking staff team to nurture, target and enable all of our children to thrive.

Previous experience working within a SEND setting is essential to support the diverse needs of pupils across our school.

The successful candidate will primarily work with children with SEND, providing targeted support to help them achieve their full potential.

The role will include setting up engaging learning environments, delivering small-group and individual interventions, and adapting learning to meet a range of additional needs.

The successful applicant will work closely with class teachers and other teaching assistants to ensure pupils receive high-quality, inclusive support and may occasionally be required to take responsibility for the whole class.

• Ideal Candidate Requirements
• Previous experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in a specialist setting, mainstream school or childcare environment.
• A sound understanding of a range of SEND needs and the strategies required to support pupils to access learning, regulate their emotions and achieve their full potential.
• A genuine passion for making a positive difference to the lives of children with additional needs.
• High expectations of themselves and of every child, with a commitment to ensuring all pupils can succeed.
• Good subject knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics to effectively support teaching and learning.
• Experience of delivering targeted interventions and adapting learning to meet individual pupil needs.
• The ability to build positive, nurturing relationships with children, demonstrating patience, empathy and consistency.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, working effectively with teachers, the SENDCo, parents, carers and external professionals.
• The confidence to support pupils on a one-to-one basis, in small groups and, where appropriate, within whole-class learning.
• Strong organisational skills, the ability to use initiative and confidence in working independently when required.
• A commitment to inclusive education, high-quality provision and raising outcomes for children with SEND.
• A thorough understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and a commitment to promoting the welfare of all children.
• A willingness to contribute to the wider life of the school and support enrichment opportunities for pupils.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the Christian vision and values of St John's Infant School.
• A positive attitude, flexibility, resilience and a good sense of humour.

What We Offer

• Dedicated, supportive and friendly staff, governors and leadership team.
• Happy, enthusiastic children who enjoy coming to school and are eager to learn.
• A welcoming and inclusive school community where every child is known and valued.
• Coaching, mentoring and opportunities to learn from highly skilled colleagues.
• An attractive, well-resourced and well-maintained learning environment.
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing and work‑life balance.
• The opportunity to make a real difference to pupils within a caring and nurturing school.
• A school rooted in its Christian vision where relationships, inclusion and belonging are at the heart of everything we do.
• The chance to be part of an ambitious school that is continually striving for excellence for all children.

If you are passionate about helping children flourish academically, socially and emotionally, and would like to be part of a supportive and dedicated team, we would love to hear from you.

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