Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant

Location: York
Salary: £88 – £110 per day
Contract: Full-Time
Start Date: January 2026

GSL Education are looking for a caring and resilient SEN Teaching Assistant to work in a specialist Alternative Provision in York. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is committed to supporting children and young people with additional needs who have found mainstream education challenging.

About the School

This Alternative Provision caters for pupils aged 4–16 who require a more bespoke, therapeutic and flexible approach to education. Many learners arrive with gaps in learning, complex life experiences or unmet SEND needs, and benefit from smaller groups, specialist staff and consistent routines.

The school offers:
• A personalised curriculum designed for pupils with Autism (ASC), SEMH needs, communication difficulties, learning delays and barriers related to attendance or behaviour.
• A strong keyworker system, where each pupil has a trusted adult providing academic guidance, emotional support and daily check-ins.
• A flexible primary curriculum focusing on core skills, topic-based learning, communication, creativity and life-skills.
• A broad KS3 and KS4 programme including national curriculum subjects, GCSEs, Functional Skills and a range of vocational courses such as Catering, Construction, Hair & Beauty, ICT, Business, Child Development and Sports Science.
• Therapeutic and developmental interventions such as emotional regulation support, social communication sessions, and targeted SEN provision.
• A calm, structured and nurturing environment where building relationships is at the heart of every teaching moment.

This is a highly supportive setting where consistency, empathy and patience can make a genuine difference to a young person’s school experience.

SEN Teaching Assistant Responsibilities

• Support pupils 1:1 or in small groups with a range of SEND and SEMH needs.

• Assist with the delivery of personalised learning plans.

• Promote positive behaviour, emotional regulation and social development.

• Help pupils engage with academic tasks, vocational learning and life-skills activities.

• Work alongside teachers, pastoral staff, therapists and keyworkers.

• Maintain a safe, structured environment that encourages confidence and engagement.

Requirements

• Experience supporting pupils with SEND or SEMH needs.

• Understanding of trauma-informed practice, behaviour regulation or autism support.

• Resilience, patience and a compassionate approach to behaviour.

• A commitment to helping pupils overcome barriers to learning.

• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service or willingness to obtain one.

Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection and that successful applicants must satisfy all background safer recruitment checks including an enhanced DBS on the update service.

GSL Education is an ethical, independent recruitment agency which aims to provide quality teaching and support staff in schools throughout East and North Yorkshire.

If you would like to apply for the position of SEN Teaching Assistant, please call Kerry Fowler at GSL Education and submit your up-to-date CV via the application link. Alternatively, please visit the GSL Education official website to apply online.