Senploy
SENSA
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About the Role
We are seeking to appoint a caring, motivated, and resilient Special Educational Needs Support Assistant (SENSA) to join our specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school. This is a rewarding opportunity to support young people with additional needs to access learning, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes.
The successful candidate will work closely with teaching and pastoral staff to provide tailored support for students with SEMH needs, autism, ADHD, SEND, and other barriers to learning. You will play a key role in helping students engage positively with education and develop socially, emotionally, and academically.
Key Responsibilities
- Support students in lessons, interventions, and structured activities
- Provide one-to-one and small group support tailored to individual needs
- Promote positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and engagement in learning
- Help create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment
- Support students with social skills, communication, and independence
- Assist teachers with classroom preparation and learning resources
- Monitor and record student progress, behaviour, and wellbeing
- Work collaboratively with staff, parents/carers, and external professionals
The Ideal Candidate Will
- Have experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, autism, ADHD, or behavioural needs
- Be patient, empathetic, and resilient
- Have strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Be able to remain calm and adaptable in challenging situations
- Be committed to safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing
- Have a positive and proactive approach to supporting vulnerable learners
About Shaw Education Trust
At Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life. Whether you're supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.
Our Values
Our values - opportunity, integrity, community, and equity - guide everything we do. Our vision is "Opening doors to the world through the power of learning." We bring this to life through our mission: working together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice matters, and every learner thrives.
Our People
We are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools, proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.
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Our people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes, and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled, confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster a culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real difference.
You will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.
If you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.
Together, let's make the remarkable happen.
We believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary.
Make a Life-Changing Difference
Our special schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places to work. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities to discover their strengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives.
Our pupils include children and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, complex medical needs, sensory impairments, moderate and severe learning difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Every pupil is unique, and every achievement and milestone is recognised and celebrated.
By joining one of our special schools, you will become part of a warm, compassionate and highly skilled team, united by a shared belief in what every child and young person can achieve. You will work in a supportive environment where relationships matter, ideas are welcomed and every role makes an important contribution.
Whether you join us as a teacher, teaching assistant, healthcare professional or as part of our administration, facilities or operational teams, you will have the opportunity to develop your skills, learn from experienced colleagues and build a rewarding career in special education.
Our pupils learn in small classes and benefit from personalised education, care and support shaped around their individual strengths, needs and aspirations. Together, our teams help pupils develop their knowledge, communication, independence and confidence, while preparing them for adulthood and their future lives.
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Working in one of our special schools is much more than a job. It is an opportunity to join an extraordinary community and make a lasting difference to children, young people and their families.
Join us and help transform lives, including your own.
Employee Benefits
Shaw Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or Support Staff employment:
- An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
- Support Staff only based on working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years' service including Bank Holidays)
- Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well-being.
- Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
- Free Eye Tests
- Cycle to work scheme
- Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We know our people are the key to our success and so we're committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding one.
Colleagues within the Trust benefit from:
- Access to a full range of courses both in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include a variety of the National Professional Qualifications and the Early Carer Teacher Programme delivered by Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute.
- Experienced leadership and subject-specific support.
- Guidance from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
- Access to the Trust's Institute of Education and SCITT.
- Opportunities to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
- Participating in peer reviews.
- Access to a suite of online courses.
- Placement projects within our family of schools.
Salary and Working Hours
Actual Salary: £19,898-£20,866
Working hours: 32.5 hours per week, Term Time plus 5 Inset Days (39 weeks total)
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