SEND Skills & Independence Support Assistant

Specialist SEND Learning Coach

Location: Truro, Cornwall
Contract: Full-Time | Term-Time Only

If you know you want to work with children and young people but haven't yet decided exactly where that career could take you, specialist education is a great place to build experience.

A specialist education setting in Truro is looking for a positive and committed Specialist SEND Learning Coach to support pupils with additional learning, communication and emotional needs.

You'll work directly with young people with needs including Autism, ADHD and SEMH , gaining practical experience while learning how to support pupils who may experience barriers within traditional education.

This is a role where you'll be helping young people progress while developing your own skills, knowledge and future career opportunities.

Some pupils may lack confidence in their abilities. Others may find concentration, communication, relationships or managing emotions difficult.

Your role will be to understand what each pupil needs and help make education feel achievable again.

You'll be involved in:

• Supporting pupils individually and within small groups
• Helping young people participate confidently in lessons
• Adapting activities to suit individual learning needs
• Breaking tasks down into manageable steps
• Encouraging pupils to develop greater independence
• Building positive and consistent relationships
• Supporting communication and social development
• Helping pupils understand and regulate their emotions
• Using positive strategies to support behaviour
• Encouraging young people who may have disengaged from education
• Supporting practical, creative and enrichment activities
• Working closely with teachers and specialist colleagues

Progress will look different for every pupil, and you'll play an important role in recognising and encouraging those individual achievements.

You won't be expected to know everything when you start.

Through day-to-day experience and support from knowledgeable colleagues, you'll develop your understanding of areas including:

• Autism and neurodiversity
• ADHD
• Social, emotional and mental health needs
• Behaviour and emotional regulation
• Communication difficulties
• Inclusive learning
• Safeguarding and wellbeing
• Individual support strategies
• Relationship-based approaches

As your experience grows, so will your confidence and ability to take on greater responsibility.

There are many routes into specialist education.

You may already have worked within a school or SEND setting, but we're equally interested in people with experience from care, youth work, mentoring, residential services, sports coaching, community programmes or other support-focused environments .

This could also suit a graduate looking for meaningful experience before moving into further professional training.

You'll be someone who:

• Enjoys working directly with children and young people
• Is patient, encouraging and resilient
• Can build appropriate and trusting relationships
• Remains calm and consistent when situations become challenging
• Is interested in understanding individual needs
• Can adapt rather than relying on one approach
• Works positively with colleagues
• Is willing to learn and receive feedback
• Is dependable and professional

You'll also need a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle , together with an Enhanced DBS on the Update Service or willingness to obtain one.

The experience you gain could open doors to a wide range of careers.

You might discover that you want to progress further within SEND support, perhaps becoming a Senior Teaching Assistant, Higher Level Teaching Assistant, Learning Mentor or Behaviour Support Practitioner .

Alternatively, the experience could provide a valuable foundation for future careers or training in teaching, psychology, educational psychology, counselling, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, youth work or social care .

You'll benefit from:

• Full-time, term-time employment
• Hands-on specialist SEND experience
• Ongoing learning and professional development
• Support from experienced education professionals
• Opportunities to broaden your skills and responsibilities
• Experience supporting a variety of additional needs
• Valuable experience for future career or training applications
• Competitive rates of pay

You don't need to have your entire career planned before you begin.

Sometimes the best way to discover where you want to go is to start gaining meaningful experience.

If you're ready to learn, develop and build a career where your work can positively influence young people's lives , we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV for this Specialist SEND Learning Coach opportunity in Truro.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and appropriate safer recruitment procedures.