SEN Teaching Assistant – Primary SEND Support
| Company: | senploy |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £90 to £100 a day |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | EX4 3QR |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 8 Sept 2026 |
| Closing date: | 5 Oct 2026 |
Summary
SEN Teaching Assistant - Primary SEND Support | Exeter
Location: Exeter, Devon
Contract: Full-Time | Primary School
Pay: £90-£100 per day
It can be tempting, when a child is struggling, to step in and make things easier.
But great SEND support is often about knowing when not to.
When to give a child another few seconds to process an instruction.
When to break something into smaller steps rather than complete it for them.
When to offer reassurance - and when to encourage them to have another go independently.
A welcoming primary school in Exeter is looking for a SEN Teaching Assistant who understands that the ultimate goal of support isn't dependence.
It's confidence, participation and greater independence.
You'll work closely with individual pupils who need additional help to access learning and participate successfully in school life.
That support will look different from child to child - and sometimes from one day to the next.
You'll get to know individual strengths, needs, communication styles and barriers to learning, working alongside teachers and other professionals to provide support that is genuinely tailored to the pupil.
Your role will include:
- Providing individual support for children with a range of SEND.
- Delivering targeted 1:1 and small-group interventions.
- Adapting activities so pupils can access learning successfully.
- Supporting communication and positive social interaction.
- Helping children recognise and regulate emotions.
- Following individual learning plans and agreed behaviour strategies.
- Observing progress and sharing useful feedback with the class teacher.
- Encouraging pupils to participate in classroom activities.
- Building confidence and positive attitudes towards learning.
- Supporting personal care where required while protecting dignity and encouraging independence.
- Helping create a calm, safe and inclusive learning environment.
SEND support can easily become focused on difficulties.
What can't they access?
Where are they struggling?
What additional help do they need?
Those questions matter, but so does noticing strengths, interests and what a child can already do - because that's often where progress starts.
We're looking for someone who combines patience and empathy with high expectations for every pupil.
You'll need:
- A Level 3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning, or a relevant related qualification.
- Experience supporting children with SEND in a school or similar environment.
- An understanding of the SEND Code of Practice.
- Knowledge of positive and effective behaviour-support strategies.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- A commitment to inclusive education.
- An Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, or willingness to obtain one.
- A driving licence and own vehicle
Most importantly, you'll need to be able to adapt.
The strategy that works brilliantly for one pupil may be completely wrong for another.
This role isn't only an opportunity to support children's development.
It can develop yours too.
You'll work alongside an experienced school team, gaining further practical experience of individualised support, interventions, inclusion and different areas of SEND.
That could help you deepen your expertise as a Teaching Assistant or build towards future opportunities in specialist SEND support, pastoral work, intervention, HLTA roles or other areas of education.
You'll benefit from:
- £90-£100 per day, dependent on experience.
- A full-time primary school position in Exeter.
- Support from an experienced school team.
- Valuable specialist SEND experience.
- Ongoing training and professional development.
- Potential longer-term or permanent opportunities.
There will be moments when a child needs you right beside them.
But there will hopefully be others when the support you've provided means you can gradually step back.
They attempt the task themselves.
They ask for help appropriately.
They manage a transition that previously felt overwhelming.
They join their classmates without needing encouragement.
Those moments matter because they're evidence that your support is working.
If you're an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant in Exeter who wants to help children become more confident, engaged and independent learners, we'd love to hear from you.
Submit your CV today to be considered for this opportunity.
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to appropriate safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS and satisfactory references.