SEND Secondary Teaching Assistant in Bury St Edmunds

Location: Bury, Manchester

Start Date: ASAP

Contract: Full-time, Long-term (Temp to Perm opportunities available)

Do you want to make a genuine difference to young people who need stability, encouragement and understanding? Teaching Personnel are working closely with a secondary SEND school to recruit a motivated and caring Teaching Assistant to support pupils aged 11-16 with a wide range of additional needs. Many pupils require support beyond the classroom, including emotional regulation, confidence building and consistent adult relationships.

This is a rewarding role for someone who enjoys working in a structured, supportive environment, helping pupils overcome barriers to learning and develop the skills they need for education and life beyond school.

Your Responsibilities:

• Supporting pupils with SEND on a 1:1 and small group basis
• Helping students access the curriculum through adapted learning activities
• Encouraging engagement, independence and positive behaviour
• Providing emotional and pastoral support to pupils who may struggle with regulation
• Working alongside teachers to maintain a calm, focused classroom environment
• Assisting pupils during transitions, breaktimes and unstructured periods
• Supporting the implementation of EHCPs, learning plans and behaviour strategies
• Building strong, trusting relationships with pupils and staff
• Contributing to a safe, inclusive and respectful school culture

What We Are Looking For:

• Has experience supporting young people with SEND, SEMH or additional needs
• Is patient, reliable and emotionally resilient
• Can respond calmly and consistently to challenging behaviour
• Has strong communication skills and a positive attitude
• Is proactive and comfortable using initiative
• Enjoys working as part of a wider school team
• Is open to training and professional development
• Experience within a secondary school, specialist provision or alternative education setting is advantageous, but not essential. Transferable experience from youth work, care, mental health or support roles will be considered.

What Teaching Personnel Can Offer:

• Competitive pay, paid weekly via PAYE
• Long-term placements with opportunities for permanent roles
• Access to free SEND and behaviour-focused training
• Ongoing guidance from a dedicated secondary SEND consultant
• Supportive schools with strong leadership and pastoral teams

Safeguarding Requirements:

• Enhanced DBS on the update service (or willingness to apply)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal checks may be required where applicable

If you are passionate about supporting young people with SEND and are looking for a meaningful role where every day makes a difference, we would love to hear from you. If you are interested in this role and meet the requirements above, please apply with an up-to-date CV that highlights relevant experience and qualifications.

When applying through Teaching Personnel, an enhanced DBS on the update service is a required document. If you do not have one already, you will be asked to apply for one through Teaching Personnel before you are able to start in a position. Any applicants that have been out of the UK for more than 3 months over the past 5 years will be asked to provide an overseas criminal clearance check. If you do not already have one of these, please apply for this before applying to this role. All applicants must have a permanent residence and right to work in the UK. If you are currently based in another country, please do not apply for these roles as we will not be able to process your application. All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role.