SEN Teaching Assistant
| Company: | senploy |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £90 to £100 a day |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | EXETER, DEVON |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 18 Aug 2026 |
| Closing date: | 13 Sept 2026 |
Summary
Specialist Learning & Behaviour Mentor
Location: Exeter, Devon
Contract: Full-Time | Permanent Opportunity Available
Could your ability to connect with young people become the foundation of a rewarding career?
A specialist education provision in Exeter is looking for a confident and compassionate Specialist Learning & Behaviour Mentor to support pupils who need additional help to engage with education, manage challenges and recognise their own potential.
Working with young people with needs including Autism, ADHD and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, you'll gain practical specialist experience while learning from an established team of education professionals.
And with the possibility of a permanent position, there is genuine opportunity to develop, progress and make specialist education part of your longer-term career.
Some young people need more than academic support to succeed.
They may have struggled with previous educational experiences, find relationships difficult, become overwhelmed in traditional classrooms or need additional help managing emotions and behaviour.
That's where you'll come in.
You'll help pupils feel understood, supported and capable of moving forward.
Your day-to-day responsibilities could include:
- Mentoring pupils on a one-to-one basis
- Supporting learning within lessons and smaller group environments
- Helping young people identify and overcome barriers to learning
- Encouraging positive choices and greater independence
- Supporting emotional regulation and wellbeing
- Developing pupils' confidence, resilience and social skills
- Using individual strategies to support Autism, ADHD and SEMH needs
- Helping pupils re-engage when learning becomes difficult
- Supporting practical, enrichment and community-based activities
- Sharing observations and progress with teachers and specialist colleagues
You don't need to arrive knowing everything about SEND.
Working directly with pupils and experienced colleagues will allow you to develop your understanding of specialist education in practice.
You'll build experience in areas including:
- Autism and neurodiversity
- ADHD support
- SEMH and emotional wellbeing
- Behaviour support
- Trauma-aware approaches
- Mentoring
- Safeguarding
- Inclusive education
- Individual support planning
- Communication and relationship building
These skills can become valuable building blocks for your future career.
Perhaps you already know you want to work within SEND. Or maybe you're interested in working with young people but haven't decided which professional route is right for you.
Either way, this role gives you the chance to explore.
Your experience could support future progression into:
- Senior Learning Mentor positions
- Behaviour and Pastoral Support
- Higher Level Teaching Assistant roles
- Specialist SEND Support
- Teaching and teacher training
- Youth and community work
- Family support
- Social care
- Psychology and educational psychology
- Counselling or therapeutic support
There is also potential to secure a permanent position, allowing you to continue developing within the setting rather than having to immediately look elsewhere for your next opportunity.
You may already have experience within a school, SEND provision or alternative education setting.
Alternatively, your experience might come from youth work, care, residential services, mentoring, sports coaching, community programmes or another people-focused role.
We're looking for someone who:
- Connects naturally with children and young people
- Is interested in understanding behaviour rather than simply reacting to it
- Can remain calm and consistent under pressure
- Is patient, resilient and encouraging
- Can adapt their communication to different individuals
- Wants to develop professionally
- Works positively with colleagues and wider professionals
- Is dependable and willing to take responsibility
- Has a genuine interest in SEND and supporting additional needs
You'll also need a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle, along with an Enhanced DBS on the Update Service or willingness to obtain one.
This is a role where the experience you gain can be just as important as the work you do.
You'll benefit from:
- Full-time, stable employment
- The possibility of progressing into a permanent role
- Ongoing professional development
- Practical SEND and SEMH experience
- Exposure to specialist approaches and interventions
- Support from experienced education professionals
- Opportunities to increase your knowledge and responsibilities
- Experience that can strengthen applications for future training and professional roles
A Learning Mentor role can be the beginning of many different career journeys.
If you're ready to develop specialist skills, take on meaningful responsibility and gain experience that can help you progress, we'd like to hear from you.
Apply today with your CV for this Specialist Learning & Behaviour Mentor opportunity in Exeter.
The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and appropriate safer recruitment procedures.