BSL Communication Teaching Assistant - Brent
- ASAP start, full-time, term-time only
- £95 PAYE per day, weekly payment
- Interviews arranged ASAP
What actual position does Level 1 BSL get you into when the only jobs available require Level 2?
You currently have your Level 1 BSL; what you need now is a place that will actually let you use it and help you turn it into a career, not one that asks you to return once you've progressed further.
Most schools only allow a teaching assistant to come into the classroom of a pupil who needs it once the person has reached Level 2, which is why a Level 1 signer ends up having to stay outside the classroom rather than entering it and thus fails to gain the practical experience that would otherwise be obtained by doing so. This school operates differently: if you are able to sign and wish to build a career on that basis, you are in the classroom from the very first day, using BSL every day and working towards achieving Level 2 with structured support as part of the role.
It is a typical primary school in north-west London and admits children aged 3 to 11. The school provides support to pupils throughout the primary age group who have Autism, as well as speech, language, and Communication Needs and related learning difficulties. Signing is incorporated into the unit's daily activities rather than occurring in a single weekly lesson, which means the skills you acquire are used continuously and therefore become stronger. The staff jointly plan the communication methods to be used, so you never have to decide on your own what will be helpful for a pupil you are working with. There is a clear framework for developing your BSL further, with support for Level 2 and above being included in the way the position is organised, rather than something that you have to arrange for yourself.
Role responsibilities
- Supporting pupils in the specialist unit and in mainstream classes as needed
- Signing key instructions and content
- Working closely with one pupil at a time or a small group, where more repetition is needed to be understood
- Working alongside unit staff to keep communication approaches consistent
- Building your BSL daily, with structured progression toward Level 2 and beyond
Who should apply
- Level 1 BSL qualification, or currently training towards Level 2
- Psychology, education, or drama graduates
- Youth workers and learning mentors
- Genuine interest in Deaf awareness and sign language, no prior school experience required
- Direct SEND experience welcome but not essential
For a large part of this position, you will be working with one pupil, remaining with them until they have been properly understood rather than switching on when progress becomes slow. This kind of work demands a great deal of patience, a quality that most jobs do not require. The pupils in this setting can tell who stays and who leaves, and they respond positively to those who stay. You do not have to be fluent at this stage. What is important is that you are willing to keep learning alongside the children you support and to see the small moments, such as a pupil signing something without being asked or a child deciding to communicate instead of shutting down, as the main focus of the day.
The position is suitable for people coming from Harrow, Wembley, Ealing, Kilburn, and Willesden.
Applications should now be made, as early submission will place you ahead of the waiting list. For more information or to apply, please contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion regarding other SEND opportunities.
Parker Smith Inclusion is a specialist agency in SEND recruitment. We focus on you by taking the time to get to know individuals and then matching them with the appropriate career opportunity. We provide recruitment services across a wide range of SEND settings at all career stages, covering positions such as support staff, teachers, therapists, and senior leaders. If you would like to find out about other opportunities, you can contact Heeji at heeji@psinclusion.co.uk or call on 0203 011 4848.