SEND Support Assistant and Playworker

Upwood Primary Academy, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE26 2QA

12 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  19 October 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  7 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £16,289 - £17,371 per annum (FTE £28,153 – £30,023) plus Playworker salary – £2,888 per annum (FTE £25,614)

SEND Support Assistant and Playworker job summary

SEND Support Assistant and Playworker

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 30 hours (including 5 hours a week as a Playworker), 39 weeks (term time plus one week)

Working Pattern: 8.30am - 3.45pm Monday to Friday (This will include a 30 minute unpaid lunch break and 1 hour as a Playworker)

Salary: Pathway 3, £16,289 - £17,371 per annum (FTE £28,153 - £30,023)

plus Playworker salary - Pathway 1 £2,888 per annum (FTE £25,614)

Site: Upwood Primary Academy

Closing date: 9am on Monday 19th Oct

Start date: ASAP

Please note the trust may decide to withdraw the advert before the closing date or interview suitable candidates prior to the advert closing.

Passionate about helping children with additional needs thrive?

Can you inspire Gratitude, Respect, Optimism and Wonder in young learners?

Ready to make every day a positive experience for children?

If so, Upwood Primary Academy would love to hear from you.

Your role:

As a SEND Support Assistant and Playworker, you will support children with additional needs to thrive both in the classroom and through play. Working closely with teachers and the SENDCo, you'll help pupils overcome barriers to learning, build confidence, develop independence and achieve their full potential.

We're looking for a caring, patient and enthusiastic individual who is passionate about making a difference. You will have experience working with children and be skilled at building positive relationships, adapting support to meet individual needs and creating an environment where every child feels valued and included. Experience of supporting children with SEND is desirable.

About us:

At Upwood Primary Academy, we believe in Working Hard, Dreaming Big! and helping every child become the very best version of themselves. Our welcoming school community is built on the values of Gratitude, Respect, Optimism and Wonder, and we are looking for someone who will bring these values to life every day. Staff benefit from a collaborative team culture, a strong focus on wellbeing and opportunities for professional development as part of the Thomas Deacon Education Trust.

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference to children's lives every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Why work for us?:

Join Thomas Deacon Education Trust and be part of a dedicated team committed to "working together to transform lives through education.” To learn more about the benefits we have on offer, check out our video here: Employee Benefits

At TDET, 95% of our new employees highly rate our induction programme. Benefit from the unwavering support of our dedicated staff, ensuring you feel welcomed and well-prepared from day one. According to our 2025 staff survey, 91% of staff are proud to work for TDET!

Ready to transform lives through education? Apply now and make a difference!

TDET - Working together to transform lives through education

Thomas Deacon Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Academy will require the successful candidate to provide satisfactory references and undertake an Enhanced Check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

At Thomas Deacon Education Trust, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Join us in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where all contributions are valued.

If you have any questions regarding this post, please contact the HR Team on e-mail at hrteam@tdet.education

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

About Upwood Primary Academy

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 5 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 202 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Upwood Primary Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/upwood-primary-academy

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