SEND Teaching Assistant - More Than a Job, an Opportunity to Change Lives!
Location: Darley Abbey, Derby (DE22)
Pay: £95-£110 per day
Contract: Full-time, long-term with potential to become permanent
Working pattern: Term time only
Start date: ASAP
Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of young people?
Do you have experience working in a school, care setting or supporting children and young people with additional needs?
Are you patient, compassionate and resilient, with the ability to build positive relationships with young people who may have experienced barriers to education?
We are recruiting enthusiastic and dedicated SEND Teaching Assistants to join a specialist educational setting in Darley Abbey, Derby.
A truly different approach to education!
This is not your typical school environment!
Set in a beautiful village location alongside the River Derwent, this specialist setting offers a unique approach to education, where learning goes beyond the traditional classroom.
The school follows a trauma-informed and therapeutic approach, recognising that children need to feel safe, understood and valued before they can truly thrive.
With a strong emphasis on emotional wellbeing, nurturing relationships and personalised learning, staff play a vital role in helping pupils rebuild confidence, develop independence and rediscover their enjoyment of learning.
What makes this setting particularly special?
- Nature and outdoor learning: Pupils benefit from daily opportunities to explore the outdoors, connect with nature and develop confidence through practical experiences.
- Therapeutic learning environments: Calm, supportive spaces where pupils can regulate their emotions and feel safe.
- Personalised education: Learning is adapted to individual strengths, interests and needs rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Seven areas of learning: Including communication, health, PSHE, STEAM, English, maths and understanding the wider world.
- Relationships first: Building trust and meaningful connections is central to everything the school does.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work somewhere that genuinely understands that every child is different and that progress comes in many forms.
The Role
As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you will:
- Provide one-to-one and small-group support to pupils with additional needs.
- Help pupils overcome barriers to learning and develop confidence.
- Build positive, trusting relationships with children who may have experienced challenging circumstances.
- Support emotional regulation, communication and social development.
- Encourage independence and participation in classroom and outdoor learning activities.
- Work closely with teachers and other professionals to provide consistent, individualised support.
- Help create a calm, safe and nurturing environment where every pupil feels valued.
Who Are We Looking For?
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:
- Mainstream or specialist school settings.
- SEND or SEMH environments.
- Residential children's homes.
- Care homes and support settings.
- Youth work or supporting vulnerable children and young people.
You will ideally be:
- Caring, patient and compassionate.
- Resilient and confident when supporting children with additional needs.
- Able to build positive relationships and establish trust.
- Calm, consistent and understanding.
- Flexible, proactive and willing to get involved.
- Passionate about helping young people achieve their potential.
A Teaching Assistant qualification or relevant education qualification would be desirable, but we are equally interested in candidates with transferable skills from care, healthcare, residential support or other roles involving vulnerable individuals.
If you have the right attitude, resilience and a genuine passion for supporting young people, we would love to hear from you!
Getting There - Good Public Transport Links!
The school is located in the Darley Abbey area of Derby (DE22), with local bus services connecting the area to Derby city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods. Nearby bus stops make the location accessible for candidates commuting by public transport.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are looking for a rewarding role where relationships matter, every achievement is celebrated and your support can help transform a young person's experience of education, we want to hear from you!
Apply today !
Sometimes, the greatest achievement isn't completing a lesson. It's helping a young person feel safe, build trust and believe in themselves again.
Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks
