Connex - Manchester
SEN Teaching Assistant – Special & Mainstream Settings
Location: Stockport and Surrounding Areas
Pay: £90-£95 per day (depending on experience and qualifications)
Connex Education are seeking compassionate, patient, and dedicated SEN Teaching Assistants to support pupils with severe/profound learning disabilities, challenging behaviour, and pupils accessing mainstream education environments. The role involves enabling pupils to engage in teaching and learning activities that match their individual needs and stage of development.
The successful candidates will work closely with teachers, SEN staff, therapists, and families to provide high-quality educational, behavioural, and personal care support across Special Educational Needs and mainstream settings.
Key Responsibilities
Supporting Teachers
- Assist teachers in delivering lessons and preparing classroom resources
- Help create and maintain a positive and stimulating learning environment
- Support monitoring and recording of pupil progress
- Contribute creatively to classroom displays, projects, and school activities
Teaching & Learning
- Support pupils with Individual Education Programmes (IEPs)
- Promote independence, communication, and social development
- Support pupils in classroom, community, and integration settings
- Lead or support small group activities under teacher direction
- Use ICT, communication aids, switches, and specialist equipment where required
Behaviour Management
- Implement behaviour management and positive handling strategies
- Provide 1:1 support for pupils with challenging behaviour
- Supervise pupils during break and lunchtime periods
Personal Care
- Support toileting, feeding, dressing, hygiene, positioning, and manual handling
- Administer medication and support medical needs following training
- Safeguard children in line with school policies and procedures
Multidisciplinary Working
- Work collaboratively with therapists, psychologists, parents, and external professionals
- Follow therapy programmes under specialist guidance
- Attend relevant training and implement strategies effectively
Essential Criteria
- School-based experience supporting pupils with significant special educational needs
- Experience supporting pupils with Individual Education Programmes (IEPs)
- Good general education
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Excellent communication skills with staff, parents, and children
- Willingness to engage in training and continuously improve practice
- Flexible, calm, patient, and caring approach
- Good organisational skills and ability to work under direction
- Strong sense of initiative, professionalism, and discretion
Desirable Criteria
- Experience supporting pupils with:
- Severe communication difficulties
- Physical disabilities
- Severe learning difficulties
- Complex needs
- Experience supporting mainstream nursery pupils
- Relevant childcare qualification (e.g. BTEC, NNEB or equivalent)
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary environment implementing IEPs
- Makaton training
- Working knowledge of PECS and Intensive Interaction
- Ability to support a pupil who speaks Pashto through all forms of communication
- Ability to motivate and encourage pupils to achieve their best
- Balanced and mature approach when supporting pupils with disabilities
Assignment Details
- Full-time and part-time roles available from May 2026
- Choose the days that suit your schedule
- Temporary roles with the potential to become permanent
Why Join Connex Education?
- Competitive daily pay
- Weekly PAYE payments (no umbrella fees)
- Free access to accredited CPD courses
- Clear pathways for career progression
- Wellbeing support and refresher training
- Opportunities to progress into teaching through apprenticeship route
Qualifications:
- Level 2 or 3 Teaching Assistant qualification (desirable)
- GCSE English & Maths (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent
- DBS on the update service (or willingness to apply)
Connex Education Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and candidates to share this commitment. We adhere to Safer Recruitment practices in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023, and other relevant legislation. All appointments are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks, including references and an enhanced DBS check.