Job description
Primary SEN Teaching Assistant
Location: York, North Yorkshire
Start Date: March 2026
Contract: Full Time, Term Time Only
Salary: £90 – £110 per day
GSL Education is seeking a dedicated Primary SEN Teaching Assistant to support children with additional needs in a nurturing primary setting in York. This is a full-time, term time only role, providing hands-on support to pupils across the primary age range, helping them access the curriculum and thrive socially and emotionally.
About the School
The school provides education for children and young people aged 4 to 16 years, with a range of additional needs. These include, but are not limited to, Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs (SEMH), Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), moderate learning difficulties (MLD), and ADHD.
The school aims to provide a supportive, inclusive environment where pupils can develop confidence, resilience, and essential academic and life skills, helping them to reach their full potential.
Small class sizes and high staff-to-pupil ratios allow for personalised support and focused attention, enabling pupils to make meaningful progress. The school’s curriculum combines core academic learning, practical activities, and pastoral development, including PSHCE, to support pupils’ social, emotional, and personal growth.
As a Primary SEN Teaching Assistant, you will:
- Support pupils with additional needs in accessing the curriculum and engaging with learning activities.
- Assist teachers in delivering differentiated lessons, adapting resources and approaches to meet individual needs.
- Provide one-to-one or small-group support for pupils with ASC, SEMH, MLD, ADHD, or other additional needs.
- Help pupils develop communication, social, emotional, and self-regulation skills in line with their EHCP outcomes.
- Support positive behaviour, using relational and trauma-informed strategies to maintain a calm and safe learning environment.
- Observe, monitor, and record pupil progress, contributing to reports and updates for teachers, families, and multi-agency teams.
- Assist with the preparation of classroom resources and learning materials to support personalised learning.
- Encourage independence, confidence, and resilience in pupils, helping them to achieve meaningful academic and personal outcomes.
As the Ideal Primary SEN Teaching Assistant, you should have:
- Experience working with primary-aged pupils with ASC and/or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
- A good understanding of EHCPs and the ability to support their outcomes effectively.
- Experience supporting learning in a classroom or alternative provision setting.
- Strong behaviour support skills, using relational and trauma-informed approaches where appropriate.
- The ability to build positive, trusting relationships with pupils who may have experienced barriers to learning.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, working effectively with teachers, families, and external professionals.
- A calm, resilient, and reflective approach, with high expectations for learning and personal development.
- A commitment to inclusive practice and improving outcomes for vulnerable learners.
To apply for the position of Primary SEN Teaching Assistant in York, please contact Kerry Fowler at GSL Education as soon as possible, and submit an up-to-date CV via the application link.
GSL Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, verification of qualifications and confirmation of the right to work in the UK.