[261110] SEN Teaching Assistant
Courtlands School, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 5JS12 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2027
Closing date
22 November 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
9 November 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £27,709.00 - £30,515.00 Annually (FTE) NJC Grade D Pt 8-14
[261110] SEN Teaching Assistant job summary
Post: SEN Teaching Assistant
Location: Courtlands School, Widey Lane, Crownhill, Plymouth, PL6 5JS
FTE Salary Range: NJC Grade D Pt 8-14; £27,709 - £30,515
Actual Salary Range: £21,659.60 - £23,852
Contract Type: Part time, term time only (39 weeks per year)
Contract Hours: 32.5 Hrs per week, Monday to Friday
At Courtlands School, we believe that great education changes lives. Our pupils arrive with a wide range of strengths, needs and experiences, and our mission is simple: to provide an ambitious, inclusive and nurturing education that prepares them for successful futures.
About the successful candidate
We are looking for candidates who have a passion and desire to accelerate the progress and raise the achievement of all our children. We are looking for people who have the following experience and qualities:
- Hold a NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools or other relevant qualification
- GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English and Mathematics or equivalent
- Experience of working with Primary children aged 4-11 years and their families
- Experience of working with children with a range of SEND
- Treat pupils with dignity, building relationships with mutual respect
- Have an ability to work independently and use own initiative
- Be able to display effective communication skills with both children and adults
- Be eager to work collaboratively in a wider team, be adaptable and open to new ideas and practices
- Able to deal with change and unpredictability positively with a ‘can-do’ attitude
- Emotionally resilient and self-aware
- Be driven by a passion and commitment to inclusive education and raising standards for all
About the School
Courtlands School is a specialist school in Plymouth serving pupils with moderate learning difficulties and social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has made significant improvements in recent years and is recognised for its positive relationships, strong safeguarding culture, personalised approach and commitment to preparing pupils for adulthood.
Our staff are proud of the difference they make, and our pupils benefit from a warm, welcoming environment where they feel safe, valued and listened to.
As we continue our improvement journey, our focus remains on securing excellent outcomes for every learner through high-quality teaching, meaningful inclusion and a curriculum that enables all pupils to flourish.
Why Join Us?
At Courtlands School, you will find:
- A school with a clear moral purpose and values-driven culture.
- Dedicated and skilled staff who care deeply about pupils and each other.
- Pupils who are engaging, rewarding and full of potential.
- Strong support from trust leaders and colleagues.
- Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
- The opportunity to shape inclusive practice across a specialist setting.
- The privilege of making a profound difference to the lives of children and families every day.
About the Trust
We are a family of schools working in partnership for the benefit of all our pupils and students. We believe our charitable aim, to advance education, is best achieved through collaboration, both within the Trust and beyond.
We operate 21 academies across Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, serving learners aged 3 to 19. Alongside our primary, all-through and technical provision, we are proud to include a strong and integral network of seven special schools and one alternative provision setting.
These settings are a vital part of our community, providing inclusive, high-quality education for pupils with a wide range of needs, including complex learning profiles, autism, and social, emotional and mental health needs, as well as those who benefit from a more personalised approach. Together, we are committed to helping every young person thrive.
Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.
Next Steps
If you think this role may be for you and want to be involved at this exciting time in our development and have any questions about the position, please get in touch by calling the Recruitment team on 07759365064 or emailing us at recruitment@reachsouth.org.
Closing date for applications is Sunday 22nd November 2026 at midnight
Interview Date: Interviews are provisionally booked for W/C 30th November 2026
To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by clicking ‘apply now’ on the advert.
We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.
Opportunities and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.
We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Courtlands School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 4 to 11
- Size
- 101 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Courtlands School website
Courtlands Special School Academy is a friendly and ambitious academy in Plymouth which caters for primary aged children (4-11) with Moderate Learning Difficulties and Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Our innovative curriculum is based on meeting individual’s needs rather than schemes of work, and provides a wide range of curriculum and therapeutic input.
We are leaders in our field, having won numerous national awards for our work, and work in a Trauma Informed way to support our children to overcome their difficulties and make great progress in all areas of their development. We constantly strive for the best ways to support our children, and welcome innovation and new, evidence based ways of working.
You will need high levels of emotional resilience, and good coping strategies born out of successful experience of teaching and supporting children with complex needs including Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties such as ADHD and attachment disorders; Communication and Interaction needs such as ASC and Speech and Language Difficulties. This could be in either a special school or mainstream school, with mainstream experience being an advantage.
We can offer you a motivated and skilled staff team and a real opportunity to make a difference to the future of our wonderful children and school. We look after our staff with award winning care for their wellbeing (National Wellbeing in Schools Award 2019). You won’t be taking marking home to do in the evening, and you will be given the freedom to meet the needs of the pupils in your class, along with the resources to do it. You will receive training in a wide range of SEND and real time support and mentoring form a Leadership Team whose door is literally open all the time.
School location
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