Graduate Sen Teaching Assistant - Chester

Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant – Chester

Full-Time | Long-Term Position |

Do You Have SEN Experience and Want to Make a Meaningful Difference?

Are you a graduate with previous experience working with children or young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and looking to take the next step in your career?

A specialist SEN school in Chester (CH1 3DR) is seeking a caring, patient and resilient Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant to join their team from September 2026 .

What’s In It for You:

• A full-time Monday - Friday position
• Term-time working (Earning £500 - £560 per week)
• A long-term opportunity within a supportive SEND school
• Guidance and mentoring from experienced teachers
• Practical experience working with children
• Opportunities to support pupils on a 1:1 and small-group basis
• Experience working with pupils with SEND and additional learning needs
• The opportunity to see different teaching approaches in practice
• Valuable experience for future PGCE, SCITT, School Direct and other teacher training applications
• A supportive team environment where you can develop professionally

This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate who already has experience supporting pupils with additional needs and wants to develop their skills further within a specialist educational environment .

The school supports children and young people with autism, additional learning difficulties and behaviours that can present challenges , providing highly personalised education and support based around each pupil's individual needs.

If you're considering a future career in teaching, special educational needs, educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counselling or another child-focused profession, this role offers valuable hands‑on experience within a specialist setting.

The Role

As a Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant , you'll provide personalised support to pupils who require additional assistance to access their education, develop their skills and achieve their individual potential.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing dedicated 1:1 support for individual pupils
• Supporting children & young people with autism and additional learning needs
• Helping pupils develop their academic, communication and social skills
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Helping pupils develop confidence, resilience and independence
• Adapting activities and resources to meet individual needs
• Supporting pupils with communication difficulties
• Encouraging positive social interaction
• Working closely with teachers to understand individual pupil needs
• Supporting pupils who may display challenging behaviours
• Providing reassurance, encouragement and consistent support
• Helping maintain a calm, structured and positive learning environment

Every pupil will have their own strengths, needs and individual learning journey. You'll be expected to build positive relationships, understand each pupil as an individual and adapt your approach accordingly.

What We’re Looking For

Previous SEN experience is essential.

We're looking for graduates who have already gained experience supporting children or young people with additional needs and who are passionate about developing a career within specialist education.

You'll ideally have:

• A First Class, 2:1 or 2:2 degree
• Previous experience working with children or young people with SEN
• Experience supporting pupils with autism and/or additional learning needs
• A genuine passion for supporting children and young people
• Patience, empathy and emotional resilience
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to build positive and trusting relationships
• A calm and consistent approach
• The ability to remain composed when responding to challenging situations
• A willingness to learn and develop professionally
• The ability to work effectively as part of a wider team
• A genuine interest in developing a career within SEN or specialist education
• The right to work in the UK on a full-time basis

Previous experience within a specialist school, SEN provision, residential setting, care environment, youth work, mentoring or similar role would be highly beneficial.

Most importantly, you'll need to demonstrate genuine patience, resilience, compassion and commitment to supporting pupils with additional needs.

Experience That Can Shape Your Career

This is an excellent opportunity for a graduate who already has SEN experience and wants to build on that foundation within a specialist school.

You'll gain valuable first-hand experience supporting pupils with complex and individual needs while learning from experienced education and specialist professionals.

The experience you gain could strengthen future applications for:

• Teacher training
• SEN teaching roles
• Educational psychology
• Speech and language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Behaviour support
• Other child-centred and therapeutic professions

If you're a graduate with previous SEN experience who wants to take the next step in your career and make a genuine difference to young people's lives, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

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