Education Assistant — Sandown

About the role

SENse Learning offers Education Assistant opportunities providing one-to-one mentoring and learning support for young people with complex additional needs. Associates work across specialisms as Education Mentors, SEN Teaching Assistants, and Learning Support Mentors, delivering holistic support based on the four areas of the EHCP. The role focuses on building confidence, encouraging emotional regulation, and developing key life skills alongside education, with sessions taking place in the young person’s home and community settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children and young people who may have faced significant challenges in previous education settings
• Provide one-to-one support in homes and community settings, delivering creative and interest-based activities
• Support the development of life skills, confidence, and independence
• Use trauma-informed approaches and flexible strategies to support a wide range of additional needs
• Understand the importance of emotional regulation and implement strategies to model and encourage this
• Share progress updates with the student’s team and adapt support where needed

Requirements

• At least 2 years of experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs (e.g. ASC, ADHD, SEMH, EBSA, trauma, PDA, mental health)
• Background as a Support Worker, Learning Support Assistant (LSA), Teaching Assistant (TA), Higher-Level TA, Youth Worker, Personal Assistant (PA), or other relevant care or education role
• Understanding of child-centred, holistic ways of working; ingenuity and creativity to adapt curriculum to individual students
• Enhanced DBS (can be facilitated if needed) and 2+ professional references
• Based in the UK with the right to work in the UK (including for remote/online roles)
• Knowledge of safeguarding and creating a safe learning environment

Benefits

• Pay: £18–£23 per hour, agreed per referral and set out in its Service Schedule
• Flexible working: craft your own schedule with in-person, hybrid, and community-based support opportunities; agree session times with parents, carers, or schools
• Choice of work: choose how many referrals to take on and turn down any that don’t suit you
• Meaningful work: support young people often excluded or disengaged from traditional education
• Team around the child: Case Coordinators and pastoral and pathways teams work alongside you and the family
• Associate community: optional practice-sharing events and shared resources
• Introducer fee: paid when someone you introduce goes on to work with a young person

Engagement terms

• Self-employed associate under a contract for services; choose which referrals to accept and free to work with other organisations
• Not a PAYE position
• Must have own professional indemnity and public liability insurance (guidance on registering as self-employed available if needed)

Relevant experience

Teaching background roles:

• SENDCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator)
• SLD / MLD Teacher
• Autism / ADHD Support Teacher
• Intervention Specialist / Teacher / Tutor
• Ex-Teacher

Therapeutic and learning support background roles:

• Learning Support Assistant (LSA) / Teaching Assistant (TA)
• Educational Therapist
• Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
• Educational Psychologist (EP)
• Inclusion Coordinator