Teaching Assistant - Special Education Needs (SEN)
Barnehurst Infant School, Erith, Kent, DA8 3NL15 days remaining to apply
Start date details
asap
Closing date
6 November 2026 at 7pm
Date listed
21 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full time equivalent salary
- £20,124.00 Annually (Actual) Working 39 weeks per year . Paid for 44.45 weeks (FTE Salary: £29,111)
Teaching Assistant - Special Education Needs (SEN) job summary
About Us
The Federation of Barnehurst Schools brings together Barnehurst Infant School and Barnehurst Junior School in Northumberland Heath, Bexley, as part of The Primary First Trust (PFT). Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, our federation is a popular, close-knit part of the local community, admitting two forms of entry each year across our Reception and Year 3 intakes.
We’re proud of an ethos built around the “Power of Me” and “Power of We”, which helps every child grow into a confident, resilient and compassionate learner within a caring, inclusive and inspiring environment where they feel safe. That ambition is backed up by recognition, including the IQM Inclusive School Flagship Award, Music Mark School status, and Rights Respecting School accreditation.
Every child deserves the right support to thrive, and that’s where you come in.
About the Role
We’re looking for a caring, enthusiastic and well-organised Teaching Assistant to join our team. Working alongside our teachers and support staff, you’ll help pupils in vulnerable groups, particularly those with special educational needs, to stay focused and engaged, understand what’s being asked of them, and grow into confident, independent learners.
This is a varied, rewarding role covering 1:1 and small-group support, reading and storytelling, preparing learning spaces and resources, and supporting pupils’ emotional and social development, so no two days are quite the same.
Day to day, you’ll:
- Provide 1:1 and group support, helping pupils understand and complete the tasks and activities set by the teacher.
- Help identify pupils who need additional support, including those with SEND, and work with staff to meet their needs.
- Listen to children read, read to them, and bring stories to life.
- Prepare classrooms and learning spaces for activities, and create displays and exhibitions of children’s work.
- Support pupils who find it difficult to engage with learning, encouraging positive behaviour and responding calmly to challenging behaviour.
- Offer emotional support to help pupils develop socially and emotionally, and keep colleagues informed of any concerns.
What We’re Looking For
- A genuine passion for helping every child do their best, and for making learning irresistible.
- Good literacy and numeracy skills.
- Excellent communication skills, and the ability to build strong, appropriate relationships with children and parents/carers.
- The flexibility to adapt your approach to meet children’s individual needs.
- Someone trustworthy, energetic, well-organised and self-motivated, with a high level of professionalism and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
- A commitment to developing your own practice.
- A genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Experience of working with children across the primary curriculum, including those with social, emotional and mental health needs, would be an advantage, but if you have relevant experience and a commitment to improving your practice, we’d love to hear from you.
Why Join Us
- Be part of an Outstanding-rated school and a supportive, values-led Trust that invests in its people.
- An ambitious leadership team committed to staff professional learning and development.
- Dedicated, professional and determined colleagues, and happy, motivated children who are keen to learn.
- A strong commitment to staff wellbeing, with excellent resources and vibrant teaching spaces.
- Local Government Pension Scheme membership.
- Access to wellbeing services, including GP, nurse, counselling and physiotherapy support.
We warmly welcome visits to the school. Please contact the school office to arrange one. Visits do not form part of the recruitment process.
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 Barnehurst Infant School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 3 to 7
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 218 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 7
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
School location
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