SEND Teaching Assistant

Location: Southampton
Start Date: November 2026
Contract: Long-Term (Potential to Become Permanent)
Salary: Up to £21,500 per annum
Hours: 32.5 hours per week

Supply Desk are seeking compassionate, patient, and dedicated Teaching Assistants to join a specialist through-school in Southampton, supporting pupils from primary through to secondary age with moderate to severe learning disabilities.

This highly rewarding role would suit individuals with backgrounds in care, support work, healthcare, SEND education, residential care, nursing assistance, or other roles supporting individuals with additional needs. Experience with PEG feeding, manual handling, Makaton, British Sign Language (BSL), or personal care would be particularly valuable.

If you are committed to helping children and young people reach their full potential and believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn, communicate, and thrive, we would love to hear from you.

This well-established specialist school provides tailored education and support for pupils with moderate to severe learning disabilities and a range of associated needs. The school prides itself on creating a nurturing, inclusive, and highly supportive environment where pupils are encouraged to develop independence, communication skills, confidence, and life skills.

Working across primary and secondary phases, staff take a collaborative approach, ensuring every student receives personalised support that enables them to achieve meaningful progress both academically and socially.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers, therapists, and support staff to ensure students can access learning in a way that meets their individual needs.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting pupils with moderate to severe learning disabilities throughout the school day.
• Assisting students with communication, learning, and social development.
• Supporting the delivery of personalised learning activities.
• Using communication strategies such as Makaton, BSL, visual timetables, and sensory approaches where appropriate.
• Providing personal care and promoting independence with daily living skills.
• Supporting pupils with medical, physical, and sensory needs.
• Assisting with manual handling procedures where required.
• Supporting students who require PEG feeding or other specialist interventions (training can be provided where necessary).
• Building positive, respectful, and trusting relationships with pupils and their families.
• Contributing to a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment.

This role would particularly suit:

• Teaching Assistants
• Care Assistants
• Support Workers
• Residential Support Workers
• Healthcare Assistants
• Nursing Assistants
• SEND Practitioners
• Learning Support Assistants
• Individuals with experience supporting people with complex needs

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• A calm, caring, and patient approach.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people with additional needs.
• The ability to build positive relationships and promote independence.
• Confidence working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• An understanding of safeguarding and person-centred support.

Whilst not essential, experience in any of the following would be highly advantageous:

• PEG feeding
• Manual handling
• Makaton communication
• British Sign Language (BSL)
• Personal care
• Complex learning needs
• Physical disabilities
• Sensory needs
• Medical needs support

• Full-time availability is essential to ensure consistency for pupils and staff.
• Previous experience supporting children, young people, or vulnerable adults is highly desirable.
• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/