SEN Teaching Assistant

Location: Northampton, Northamptonshire
Start Date: September 2026
Working Pattern: Full-Time, Monday to Friday
Contract: Long-Term with Potential for Permanent
Pay: Competitive daily rate, depending on experience

Are you someone who gets real satisfaction from helping children make progress, overcome challenges, and become more confident learners?

We are looking for a SEN Teaching Assistant to join a supportive primary school in Northampton from September 2026. The school is seeking someone who can provide consistent, nurturing support to pupils who need additional help to thrive in the classroom.

This role would suit an experienced Teaching Assistant, SEN support worker, childcare professional, or someone with relevant experience who is looking to establish themselves within a primary school environment.

No two days are likely to be exactly the same. You will be working closely with teachers and other support staff to ensure children receive the right level of help throughout the school day.

You could be involved in:

• Working alongside individual pupils who require additional support
• Leading focused activities with small groups of children
• Helping pupils participate in lessons and complete classroom tasks
• Supporting reading, writing, numeracy, and other areas of the curriculum
• Encouraging children to become more independent with their learning
• Helping pupils develop communication and social skills
• Providing reassurance and emotional support when children become overwhelmed
• Using agreed strategies to encourage positive behaviour and engagement
• Helping children settle into routines and manage transitions throughout the day
• Preparing or adapting resources to make activities more accessible
• Sharing observations and feedback with the class teacher and SENCO
• Supporting the wider classroom when required

Above all, the school is looking for someone who is patient, dependable, and genuinely invested in children's wellbeing and development.

You should be able to:

• Build trusting relationships with children
• Remain calm and encouraging in challenging situations
• Recognise when a child needs additional reassurance or support
• Adapt your approach to suit different personalities and learning needs
• Communicate effectively with teachers, support staff, and parents
• Follow individual strategies and school procedures consistently
• Encourage pupils without creating dependence on adult support
• Work collaboratively as part of a busy primary school team

Previous experience supporting children with SEND would be advantageous, but the school is also open to candidates with transferable experience from childcare, youth work, care, sports coaching, mentoring, or similar roles.

Candidates should have:

• GCSE English and Maths, or equivalent
• Experience working with children or young people
• A genuine interest in supporting pupils with additional needs
• A professional and reliable approach
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare
• The ability to obtain an Enhanced DBS check

This is more than simply a classroom support position. You will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with pupils and see the impact of your support on their confidence, learning, and development.

The school offers:

• A welcoming and supportive primary environment
• Full-time hours from September 2026
• A long-term position with the possibility of becoming permanent
• Competitive daily pay
• Opportunities to develop your SEN experience
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Ongoing support from your Tradewind Recruitment consultant

If you are looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference to children's lives and are passionate about SEN and primary education, we would be keen to hear from you.

Whether you are an experienced Teaching Assistant or looking to take your first significant step into SEN support, this Northampton primary school could be an excellent fit.

Apply now to be considered for this SEN Teaching Assistant opportunity starting September 2026.