SEND Teaching Assistant - Career Changers Welcome 

£95–£100 per day
Full-time | Monday to Friday | Camden

You do not necessarily need years of classroom experience to be good at supporting young people.

Some of the strongest SEND Teaching Assistants come from completely different backgrounds.

If you have worked in care, youth work, mental health, sports coaching, residential support, hospitality, customer service or another people-focused role, you may already have many of the skills a SEND school values: patience, resilience, communication, empathy and the ability to stay calm when things do not go to plan.

We are recruiting a SEND Teaching Assistant in Camden and are particularly interested in hearing from people looking to move into education and build a meaningful long-term career.

What does the role involve?

You will work alongside teaching staff to support pupils who need additional help to access school successfully.

Depending on the pupil and setting, you may be:

• Supporting pupils individually or in small groups

• Helping pupils remain engaged during lessons

• Breaking tasks down into manageable steps

• Providing reassurance when pupils become anxious or overwhelmed

• Encouraging communication, independence and confidence

• Supporting routines and transitions throughout the day

• Helping pupils regulate their emotions

• Celebrating progress that may look very different for each individual pupil

• Working collaboratively with teachers and other SEND professionals

You are not expected to arrive knowing everything.

What matters most is your attitude, your willingness to learn and how you respond when a pupil is having a difficult moment.

Could your previous experience transfer into SEND?

We would be interested in hearing from candidates from backgrounds including:

• Care and support work

• Youth work

• Mental health

• Residential care

• Sports coaching

• Performing arts

• Psychology or other graduate backgrounds

• Hospitality and customer-facing roles

• Mentoring

• Children's activities or childcare

If your previous work has required patience, clear boundaries, relationship-building or supporting people through difficult situations, those skills may transfer extremely well.

Essential

• A genuine interest in working with children or young people with SEND

• Patience and emotional maturity

• Strong communication skills

• Reliability

• Willingness to learn from experienced school staff

• Ability to commit to a full-time position

Desirable

• Previous experience with children or young people

• Care, mentoring or support work experience

• Knowledge of SEND

• Psychology, education, youth work or related qualifications

Why make the move into SEND?

Working in SEND can give you something many jobs cannot: the chance to see the impact of your work directly.

You might help a pupil who normally avoids lessons stay engaged. You might become the person they trust enough to ask for help. You might help them develop a skill they have struggled with for months.

It can be challenging, but it can also be the beginning of a completely new career.

Previous Teaching Assistants have used roles like this as experience before progressing into teaching, educational psychology, counselling, therapy, social work, pastoral support and other SEND careers.

Why Parker Smith Inclusion?

Parker Smith Inclusion specialises in SEND recruitment.

We understand that entering education for the first time can feel like a big career move, so we will speak honestly with you about the environments that are likely to suit your experience and personality.

We offer transparent PAYE placements, specialist advice and ongoing support throughout your assignment.

Thinking about changing careers?

You do not need to have followed a traditional education career path.

If you are reliable, patient and genuinely interested in supporting young people, I would like to hear from you.

Apply today to discuss the SEND Teaching Assistant – Career Changer opportunity in Camden and whether your experience could transfer into SEND.

Safeguarding: Parker Smith Inclusion is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Successful applicants will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures, satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.