SEND Learning Support Assistant in Grays

An opportunity has arisen for a SEND Learning Support Assistant with experience of working with children with Special Educational Needs to work in our successful team supporting students across the school. This role is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to take on a crucial role to enable pupils access to learning, by supervising and assisting pupils and understanding how a child’s special educational needs impact on their social and emotional development.

We believe that all pupils in this community should be able to achieve their full potential through good and outstanding teaching and learning based on our Co-operative values. All pupils, parents, staff and other stakeholders are therefore encouraged to contribute to the school as an autonomous learning community.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to communicate with other members of staff effectively
• The ability to build strong professional relationships
• Their understanding of the Nurture approach, and the theory underlying a Nurture provision
• Assist with the planning of learning activities by identifying and preparing resources required to support lesson plans and learning outcomes.
• Good organisational skills
• Good behaviour management skills
• A proficiency in ICT
• Good record keeping skills (Progress and medical where required)
• A willingness to provide personal care
• A passion for the impact teaching and learning can have on improving life
• A commitment to supporting the delivery of education at the highest standard

Main duties will be:

• Supporting pupils, to ensure they are engaged in learning activities and improve outcomes for children
• To promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students within the classroom
• To act as a role model, setting high expectations of conduct and promoting positive pupil behaviour, to create a safe and inclusive learning environment
• To provide feedback to the relevant staff on the pupil’s progress, enabling lesson access and keeping pupil-related records
• To deal with any immediate problems or emergencies according to the school’s policies and procedures about health & safety, welfare and wellbeing and safeguarding
• To establish positive relationships with the pupils

What the school can offer:

• Two-week October half term
• Support from highly experienced SLT members and the wider trust network
• Support network for all staff including managing workloads and work-life balance
• Career progression throughout the Trust, with the ability to progress in other schools
• Excellent CPD opportunities through the school and the trust
• Fully Subsidised Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent behaviour management policy to support all staff
• National Conditions of Service
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme

As a trust, we welcome applications from colleagues from all backgrounds. Thameside is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on our formal application form, CVs will not be accepted. This appointment will be subject to pre-employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

Closing date: Friday 21st August 2026 - 9.00am

Interview date: Friday 4th September 2026

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. Please refer to our recruitment & selection policy statement (www.osborne.coop/working-with-us) for more information. Osborne Co-operative Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.