SEN Teaching Assistant – Secondary

Location: Oldham Agency: Teaching Personnel Start Date: September 2026

Teaching Personnel are recruiting for a proactive, confident, and resilient SEN Teaching Assistant to support the unique needs of young people in a secondary school in Oldham.

The school supports students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who present with a range of additional needs, including Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Complex Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (CLDD), Autism, Sensory Processing Difficulties, and associated social, emotional, and behavioural needs. The school is committed to providing consistent, tailored support through adapted and personalised learning approaches.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity for an individual who is passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and contributing to their academic, social, emotional, and personal development.

About the Role

As an SEN Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers, therapists, support staff, and parents/carers to provide nurturing, consistent, and personalised support. You will play a vital role in creating an accessible, safe, and stimulating environment where every young person can thrive, access learning, develop communication skills, and make progress at their own pace.

You will be expected to understand the underlying causes of challenging behaviour and respond effectively using positive behaviour support strategies, maintaining calm, structured, and consistent approaches aligned with individual EHCPs. Support is delivered through a holistic and trauma-informed approach that prioritises emotional regulation, dignity, and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting pupils with PMLD, CLDD, Autism, Sensory Processing Difficulties, and associated challenging behaviours, in line with individual EHCP targets • Providing 1:1 and small group support, adapting activities to meet sensory, cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and communication needs • Using PECS, visual timetables, communication aids, sensory regulation strategies, and structured routines to support engagement and understanding • Recognising triggers and early signs of dysregulation, and responding effectively using de-escalation techniques, positive behaviour management strategies, and Team Teach approaches where appropriate • Supporting pupils during both regulated and dysregulated behaviours, maintaining safety, dignity, and consistency • Helping to create and set up engaging, accessible learning resources and maintaining a safe, inclusive, and well-structured classroom environment • Encouraging independence, emotional wellbeing, resilience, confidence, communication, and life skills through positive relationships and consistent boundaries • Assisting with personal care, including toileting, feeding, mobility support, and changing, where required

Requirements

Essential

• Confident and proactive, with the ability to use initiative when supporting pupils with complex needs and challenging behaviours • Patient, adaptable, and resilient, with a genuine passion for supporting young people with SEN • A clear understanding of behaviour as communication and the ability to respond calmly and effectively • Able to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team, following behaviour support plans and care strategies • Willing to support with personal care and mobility needs • Available full time and committed to a long-term position

Desirable

• Experience working with PMLD, CLDD, Autism, Sensory Processing Difficulties, or complex behavioural needs • Team Teach trained, or willing to complete Team Teach training as part of the role • Experience using positive behaviour support, de-escalation strategies, or trauma-informed approaches

What Teaching Personnel Offer

• Long-term, full-time positions across a range of schools • Support from a dedicated specialist SEN recruitment team • Competitive pay with weekly payments • Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training, including behaviour management and Team Teach • The chance to make a genuine impact in the lives of young people

Apply Today

If you are passionate about supporting young people with complex needs, including challenging behaviours, to reach their full potential, we would love to hear from you.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details. All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date. Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants. We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.