Senior SEND Teaching Assistant
Sherwood Foundation School, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 7NP14 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
3 July 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
19 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- HLTA (higher level teaching assistant)
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: 36 hours per week worked across 5 days, Monday to Friday Term Time plus one week (39 weeks) & Permanent
Contract type
- Permanent
Actual salary
- £27,985-£31,468
What skills and experience we're looking for
Criteria Desirable/Essential
Right to work in the UK E
Level 2 (GCSE A – C or grade 4 or above) in English and Maths. D
Level 3 (NVQ) for Teaching Assistants or equivalent qualification or experience D
Experience of working with children/young people. E
Understanding of Special Educational Needs / Additional Learning Needs. D
Ability to work with a range of pupils/students 3 -19 years old who have Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and severe learning difficulties/complex needs, which may include behaviour that challenges use E
Ability to empathise with pupils who have a learning difficulty and their specific learning and support needs. E
An understanding of Positive Behaviour support and the ability to safely support pupils who may present behaviour that challenges us. D
Experience of supporting students in a classroom environment, including those with special educational needs. D
Ability to contribute to assessment, planning and the recording of pupil’s/students work. E
Ability to effectively lead and manage a class team and organise learning programmes and environment in the absence of the class teacher. E
When necessary, to support students with personal hygiene and toileting needs. E
To support the welfare of our learners with medical needs by administering medication following appropriate training, when necessary, as specified within our Administration of Medication Policy. E
Ability to support students with eating and drinking and where necessary feed pupils and supervise, assist and implement feeding programmes (including PEG feeding) Guidance /training will be provided. E
A general understanding of the EQUALS Pre-Formal, Informal and Semi-Formal Curricula and other relevant learning programmes/strategies. D
Ability to learn, use and extend knowledge of the ‘Makaton’ signing system as well as other communication systems including PODD, Core Vocabulary Boards and AAC. E
Ability to use ICT to a good standard, for example PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, uploading photos and videos. E
Ability to monitor the students’ response to the learning activities and, where appropriate, modify or adapt the activities as agreed with the teacher to achieve the intended learning outcomes. E
Ability to physically support pupils including those in special seating and wheelchairs in moving around the school environment and willingness and ability to implement the positive and protective handling techniques as required within individual pupil behaviour management programmes. Guidance/ training will be provided. E
A willingness to assist pupils/students within the swimming pool/Hydro Pool, horse riding and other activities both on and off the school site. E
Commitment to maintaining confidentiality on all school matters and to deal with them sensitively and professionally. E
Ability to work constructively as part of a team, understanding classroom roles and responsibilities and your own position within these and a willingness to support teachers with a specific curriculum area. E
Excellent communication skills, including with students, parents and carers, other staff and external agencies E
Ability to comply with all school policies and procedures e.g., child protection, safeguarding, health, safety and security, manual handling and positioning, positive and protective handling, wellbeing confidentiality, data protection, equal opportunities and staff code of conduct. E
A willingness to adhere to health and safety regulations including those relating to manual handling and positioning of pupils/students. Also, the ability to ensure that the environment is safe to work in. E
A willingness to work flexibly, attend in-service training and school meetings as required both within the school day and after the pupils have left. E
Ability to contribute to extracurricular activities outside of regular school hours. D
Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities E
Committed to continuing personal and further specialist professional development and training. E
What the school offers its staff
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Sherwood Foundation School
- School type
- Special school, ages 2 to 19
- School size
- 183 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Sherwood Foundation School website
- Email address
- recruitment@sherwoodpark.org.uk
Sherwood Foundation School is a Foundation Special School located in the London Borough of Sutton and made up of three campuses:
Sherwood Hill Campus
Sherwood Hill Campus is a specialist school for autistic learners aged 3–19 years who have multiple and complex barriers to learning, requiring high levels of support to access education and learning around their peers. Many of our learners may also have severe learning difficulties and/or struggle to maintain a regulated state for learning.
Sherwood Park Campus
Sherwood Park Campus is a specialist school for learners aged 3–19 years who have severe, multiple and complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This includes learners who have highly complex access needs resulting from their physical and/or health conditions. All learners require high levels of adult support to access learning.
Sherwood Manor Campus
Sherwood Manor Campus is a specialist school primarily for autistic learners aged 11–19 years who have moderate to severe barriers to learning. Most of our pupils can access a highly adapted formal learning environment with high levels of adult support. Some of our learners struggle to deal with the demands of an adult-led learning environment so may need a highly individualised learning offer to meet their academic potential.
School location
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