Teaching Assistant - Full Time

SEND Learning Mentor - ASAP Start

Location: Halton, Cheshire
Pay: £95-£105 per day
Contract: Full-Time | Long-Term
Start Date: ASAP

Sometimes the Most Important Thing You Can Give a Pupil Is Consistency

The same person greeting them in the morning.

Someone who notices when they're becoming overwhelmed before things escalate.

An adult who remembers which strategies work, understands how they communicate and doesn't give up when they're having a difficult day.

For children with additional needs, that consistency can make an enormous difference.

A supportive education setting in Halton, Cheshire is looking for a SEND Learning Mentor to join its team as soon as possible.

You'll work closely with pupils who need additional support to engage with education, helping them develop the confidence, stability and skills they need to participate more successfully in school.

Build Trust Before Expecting Progress

Some pupils will find it difficult to engage with learning until they feel secure with the adults supporting them.

Needs may include:

Autism (ASC) • ADHD • SEMH • Learning Difficulties • Speech & Language Needs • Communication Needs • Sensory Differences • Emotional Regulation Needs

A child may struggle with transitions or unexpected changes.

Another might find communicating their feelings difficult.

Some pupils may become anxious or dysregulated when demands feel overwhelming, while others may need additional structure to remain engaged with learning.

Your role will be to understand the individual child rather than expecting the child to fit one particular approach.

What Will Your Day Involve?

You'll work alongside teachers and other education professionals to provide structured, consistent support throughout the school day.

Depending on the pupils you're working with, you may:

• Provide targeted one-to-one and small-group support.
• Help pupils settle into lessons and daily routines.
• Support children to access learning at an appropriate level.
• Break activities into manageable steps.
• Adapt resources around individual learning needs.
• Support pupils working towards EHCP and individual outcomes.
• Deliver structured interventions.
• Use visual, practical or sensory approaches where appropriate.
• Support communication and social interaction.
• Help pupils recognise and manage emotions.
• Support positive behaviour and engagement.
• Help children navigate transitions and changes in routine.
• Encourage confidence, independence and resilience.
• Observe progress and share useful feedback with teaching staff.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, the SENCO and other professionals.

Look Beyond the Difficult Moment

SEND support requires you to ask a different question.

Not simply:

"How do I stop this behaviour?"

But:

"What is this pupil trying to communicate?"

Perhaps the work is too difficult.

The environment might be overwhelming.

They may not understand what's expected next.

Or they simply don't yet have the communication or emotional-regulation skills to explain what they need.

You'll need to stay calm, look for patterns and help pupils develop more effective ways of managing those situations.

Your Experience Might Be More Relevant Than You Think

Previous school experience would be valuable, but there are other backgrounds that can provide excellent foundations for SEND support.

You may have experience within:

Education • Children's Care • Youth Work • Early Years • Residential Support • Behaviour Support • Mentoring • Coaching • Community Work

You could currently be working as a:

Teaching Assistant • SEN TA • Learning Support Assistant • Behaviour Mentor • Support Worker • Youth Worker • 1:1 Support Assistant

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with children or young people.
• Builds relationships naturally while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Is patient and emotionally resilient.
• Can remain calm when a young person is struggling.
• Understands the importance of consistency.
• Is willing to adapt their approach around individual needs.
• Can follow agreed support and behaviour strategies.
• Communicates effectively with colleagues and other professionals.
• Wants to develop their understanding of SEND.
• Is dependable and committed to providing consistent support.

An Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, or willingness to obtain one , will be required.

Develop Skills That Can Take You Further

Working directly with pupils with SEND can give you valuable experience across communication, behaviour, emotional regulation, personalised learning and inclusive education .

It can also help you discover where you want your own career to go next.

Your experience could eventually support progression towards:

Specialist SEND Support • Senior Teaching Assistant • HLTA • Behaviour Mentor • Pastoral Support • Teaching • SEND Leadership

You'll benefit from:

• £95-£105 per day .
• A full-time, long-term opportunity.
• ASAP start .
• Hands-on experience supporting pupils with different additional needs.
• Opportunities to develop practical SEND strategies.
• Experience supporting personalised and EHCP outcomes.
• Exposure to communication, behaviour and emotional-regulation approaches.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Experience working alongside teachers and specialist professionals.

Be the Person a Pupil Knows Will Be There Tomorrow

You won't transform everything in one lesson.

Progress is built through hundreds of smaller interactions.

Showing up.

Staying consistent.

Recognising what a child needs.

Celebrating progress.

And helping them try again after a difficult day.

If you're looking for a SEND Learning Mentor role in Halton, Cheshire and you're available to start as soon as possible , apply today with your CV.