SEND Teaching Assistant

SEND Teaching Assistants - East Sussex
Hastings | Battle | Eastbourne | Hailsham | Crowborough | Seaford | Newhaven

With the new academic year getting underway, I'm looking to speak with Teaching Assistants and support staff who want to work within SEND and specialist education across East Sussex.

I'm currently recruiting for a range of specialist schools and provisions supporting children and young people with needs including autism, SEMH, ADHD, communication difficulties and additional learning needs.

Opportunities range from flexible day-to-day work through to full-time, longer-term placements, so I'm happy to speak with people looking for either regular work or something that fits around other commitments.

Working as a SEND Teaching Assistant is about much more than simply supporting academic work.

You'll be helping young people access education in a way that works for them. That could involve 1:1 support, working with small groups, helping pupils regulate when they're struggling, supporting communication, managing behaviour positively and building the consistent relationships that allow young people to feel safe and engage with learning.

Some days can be challenging. You'll need patience, resilience and the ability not to take things personally when a young person is having a difficult day.

But for the right person, SEND can also be an incredibly rewarding area of education to work in.

Previous SEND or school experience is valuable, but it isn't essential for every position.

I'd particularly like to hear from:

• Experienced SEND Teaching Assistants and LSAs
• Mainstream TAs interested in moving into specialist education
• Youth workers and support workers
• Sports coaches
• Psychology or education graduates
• Mentors
• People with care experience
• Anyone with strong experience supporting children or young people

More important than having the perfect CV is being calm, reliable, patient, emotionally resilient and genuinely interested in building relationships with young people.

A driving licence and access to a vehicle can be useful for some East Sussex settings due to their locations, but this isn't essential for every opportunity.

Before moving into education recruitment, I spent around six years working directly within SEND education myself, including as a Specialist Teaching Assistant and ELSA.

I've been on the other side of the classroom door, so I understand the reality of these roles and the importance of finding a school that suits you rather than simply putting somebody into the first vacancy available.

You'll also have access to support throughout your placement and opportunities to continue developing your experience within education.

You'll need to be willing to complete our registration and safeguarding checks before starting work. This includes p