EXPIRED

SEN Teaching Assistant

Newstead Wood School, Orpington, Kent, BR6 9SA

This job expired on 22 June 2025 – see similar jobs

• Job start date

  27 August 2025

• Closing date

  22 June 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  9 June 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
  • Learning support or cover supervisor
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time: 37.5 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Dependent on experience

What skills and experience we're looking for

Job Purpose:  

To support students with learning needs in the classroom, within small groups or on a one-to-one basis, and to ensure access and safe movement around our school site. Some personal care support outside of lessons may be required and so a background or experience of personal care of young people is desirable. 

General Duties:   

All duties associated with this role require the highest standards of professionalism at all times in terms of manner, conduct and confidentiality.  This role also demands high levels of literacy as all written communication must be in Standard English.   

Main Responsibilities

• To work under the direction and guidance of the SENCO to remove barriers to learning for an individual's/group, in or out of the classroom

• To support access to learning for students within the classroom, under the direction of teaching staff.

• To support safe travel around the site and to ensure personal needs are met.

Support for Students

• To use specialist skills/training/experience to support students to make progress in their learning and in their personal and social development.

• To establish productive working relationships with students, acting as a role model and setting high expectations.

• To support classroom learning of individual students/small groups.

• To support the social and emotional wellbeing of students.

Support for Teachers

• To use strategies, in liaison with the teacher, to support students to make progress and achieve their full potential

• To assist with planning and delivery of learning opportunities and intervention sessions

• To monitor students’ responses to learning activities and accurately record achievement/progress as directed by SENCO

• To provide detailed and regular feedback to teachers on students’ achievement, progress and barriers to learning.

• To support students to catch up learning following any absence.

Support for departments

• Undertake structured and agreed learning and administrative duties.

• Support the development of personalisation for SEND students to support progress and engagement.

• Support the SENCO with the specific administrative processes relating to named students.

Support for the school

• To be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to the SEND code of practice, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

• To contribute to the overall ethos of the school.

• Participate in training, professional learning opportunities and performance development as required.

Qualifications

• A Level (or equivalent).

• GCSE English and Mathematics.

Experience

• Experience of supporting students’ learning and achievement in a school or similar environment.

• Experience of supporting students with SEND.

Skills & Attributes

• Highly organised with excellent time management skills.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Compassionate and empathetic.

• Ability to be flexible and responsive to changing situations both in school and the wider community involving students’ needs and provision.

• Demonstrate reflective personal characteristics and be able to continually seek positive outcomes for students with SEND.

• Ability to maintain positive relationships with all SEND students, families and the professionals who support them.

What the school offers its staff

Newstead Wood is a highly selective girls’ state secondary school, with a co-educational Sixth Form, close to Orpington Station, with direct links to London. Our catchment radius covers a wide, rich range of socio-economic and ethnic areas: over 40% of students are from ethnic minorities and many of our students will be the first of their families to enter Higher Education. The school is heavily over-subscribed.

Newstead prides itself on providing an exciting learning environment, both in terms of resources and expectations, so that each individual can flourish. We recognise the range of students’ abilities, both in terms of specific subjects and personal and social education, and try to respond, often through links with the wider community. Newstead is nationally and internationally renowned for offering the best ways to provide for the needs of very able students through the formal curriculum and beyond – through extra-curricular and enrichment activities in particular. We have high expectations and encourage students to be self-motivated so that learning arises naturally through enquiry and research, across different subjects. We know that lively minds come to us well stocked and able to think divergently. Our staff understands very able and gifted students and encourage the appreciation and acceptance of different abilities.

Our expert and dedicated staff inspire our students; and our students' energy, creativity and enthusiasm inspire staff. We are proud of our students' achievements - whatever field they excel in. However, neither staff nor students are complacent - constantly looking for new challenges to meet and fresh problems to solve. Newstead students have freedom and security to be themselves, and many opportunities to follow their interests and aspirations. We know them as individuals and support them to grow as thinking young people and active citizens, ready to take positions of responsibility and leadership on leaving school. If you feel you are able to support us to bring out the best in our pupils, we welcome your application today.

Newstead Wood School is part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life-changing education to children and young people across England. United Learning is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All positions are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online check. We always appoint on merit, and we are open to discussing flexible working options.

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.

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Upload additional documents

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Candidate Pack SEN Teaching Assistant.pdf - 2.75 MB (opens in new tab)

About Newstead Wood School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1264 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Newstead Wood School website
• Email address: recruitment@newsteadwood.co.uk
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/newstead-wood-school

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