SEND Teaching Assistant

Danecourt School, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6AA

50 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  TBC

• Closing date

  25 December 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 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: £26,847.00 - £29,071.00 Annually (FTE) Medway D2, Points 4–11 (£17,311.36–£19,690.33 actual salary) + SEN Allowance

SEND Teaching Assistant job summary

Join Danecourt School as a SEND Teaching Assistant!

Small moments. Big achievements. A career that makes a difference.

Location: Danecourt School and satellite provisions at Featherby and Bligh
Hours: 28.75 hours per week (8:45am-3:15pm, Monday to Friday)
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Term time only, 39 weeks per year
Start Date: TBC
Salary: Medway D2, Points 4-11 (£17,311.36-£19,690.33 actual salary) + SEN Allowance

About the Role

What if your next job gave you the chance to celebrate achievements that really matter?

At Danecourt School, progress looks different for every child. It might be communicating a need for the first time, developing independence, building a friendship or discovering the confidence to try something new.

As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you'll be part of making those moments happen.

We're looking for caring, enthusiastic and committed people to join our award-winning specialist school, supporting primary-aged children with complex needs, including autism, communication needs and sensory processing differences.

Whether you're an experienced Teaching Assistant, already working in SEND or considering a completely new direction, Danecourt offers the opportunity to develop specialist skills and build a rewarding career in education.

You'll work in small classes alongside teachers, therapists and specialist colleagues, getting to know each child and understanding how best to support their learning, communication and wellbeing.

In this role, you will:

• Support children individually and in small groups with personalised learning activities

• Help develop pupils' communication, confidence and independence

• Create positive, trusting relationships and celebrate individual achievements

• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and specialist colleagues

• Support children's emotional wellbeing, daily routines and personal care where required

• Help create a safe, engaging and inclusive learning environment

Every day will bring something different, and you'll have the opportunity to see the difference your support makes.

Who You Are

We're looking for someone who:

• Has a caring, patient and positive approach to working with children

• Believes every child deserves the opportunity to learn, belong and achieve

• Builds positive relationships and enjoys working as part of a team

• Is flexible, proactive and willing to learn new skills

• Can remain calm and supportive when situations are challenging

• Has good literacy and numeracy skills

• Is comfortable supporting personal care where required

• Shares our commitment to safeguarding and inclusion

You don't need previous experience in a special school to apply. Experience supporting children with SEND or an NVQ Level 2 qualification would be an advantage, but we're equally interested in your values, potential and willingness to learn.

What We Offer

At Danecourt, Teaching Assistants are valued members of our specialist team. You'll be supported to develop your confidence, build new skills and explore opportunities for your future career.

Here's what you can expect:

• Small classes and the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with the children you support

• A collaborative team of teachers, Teaching Assistants, therapists and specialist colleagues

• SEND-focused training and opportunities to learn from experienced practitioners

• Career pathways across Maritime Academy Trust, including opportunities to progress into higher-level support roles, specialist positions or teaching through our grow our own approach

• The chance to join an award-winning specialist school, recognised at the Medway Parents and Carers Forum SEND Awards

• A term-time working pattern, with school holidays away from work

• Local Government Pension Scheme and national terms and conditions

• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity provision

• Wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Occupational Health support

• Lifestyle and financial wellbeing benefits, including Cycle to Work, Blue Light Card, eye care vouchers and employee discounts

Come and Discover Danecourt

Curious about working in specialist education? Come and see what makes Danecourt different.

We'd love to welcome you for a visit, meet our team and discover what being a SEND Teaching Assistant is really like.

Please contact the school office on 01634 232589 to arrange a visit.

You can also watch our Day in the Life of a Teaching Assistant video to hear directly from our team.

Explore our Candidate Information Pack and the Maritime Academy Trust Careers website to discover more about life at Maritime, professional development, benefits and wellbeing.

Apply via My New Term. We may interview and appoint as applications are received, so early applications are encouraged.

Danecourt School and Maritime Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, online checks and relevant pre-employment checks in line with current safeguarding guidance. We are proud to be an inclusive employer and value diversity at all levels.

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

Maritime Academy Trust is committed to recruiting with care and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.

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 Danecourt School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 4 to 11
• Size: 291 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Danecourt School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/danecourt-school

Danecourt is a special school catering for primary aged children who have special educational needs. The school caters for children with a wide breadth of need including complex learning difficulties, autism and social emotional mental health needs.

At Danecourt our mission is to provide all pupils with a “stimulating learning environment that allows children to explore through a personalised curriculum to become STARS!

Self reliant Team Player Aspirational Resilient Successful

The highly trained staff teams maintain high expectations of what each individual pupil is able to achieve, striving to ensure that they all achieve their maximum potential; celebrating difference and encouraging curiosity and creativity. Staff work collaboratively with families and a range of other agencies in order to meet the pupils needs and as a result, they make strong progress academically, emotionally and socially. Pupil achievement is hugely valued and celebrated in a manner that is meaningful and appropriate for each pupil.

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