Special Needs Assistant

Do you want to work with children who love learning, in a school where they are truly at the heart of everything we do?

Are you looking to join a collaborative, supportive staff team where relationships matter and every child is supported to thrive?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a compassionate, dedicated Special Needs Assistant to join our caring and committed team from September 2026.

The role will involve providing one-to-one support for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Year R. Support would be for children with significant communication and interaction and speech and language needs. This would be alongside, social, emotional and developmental differences and requires a nurturing, structured and highly individualised approach to learning and play.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting our children to:

• develop early communication skills using a range of approaches (e.g. visuals, modelling, interaction)
• engage in structured, motivating learning and play activities
• build attention, play and social interaction skills
• follow routines and manage transitions with adult support
• develop independence in self-care and daily routines
• remain safe within the school environment through close supervision

Sharing and implementing agreed strategies and contributing to review meetings will be a key component of the role.

The candidate will preferably have experience of supporting pupils with additional needs, particularly those with speech, language and communication needs, autism spectrum profiles, and/or social and emotional needs.

We are looking for someone who:

• is nurturing, kind and patient
• demonstrates high levels of emotional intelligence
• enjoys working with children with a range of needs
• is committed to building strong, trusting relationships
• can provide calm, consistent and structured support
• works positively as part of a team
• has a positive outlook with a good sense of humour
• is organised and able to work independently
• has competence in Literacy and Numeracy

Your responsibilities will include:

• working 1:1 with a child to support access to learning and the wider school environment
• supporting the child to work towards personalised EHCP outcomes
• delivering targeted interventions and structured play-based learning
• supporting emotional regulation, routines and transitions
• preparing and organising resources, including visual supports
• working closely with teaching staff, the SENDCo and external professionals
• ensuring the safety and welfare of the child at all times