Job Description

Graduate Teaching Assistant - Take Your First Step into Education This September

Summary

Are you a recent graduate with an interest in education, psychology, or therapy? A welcoming specialist school in Leeds is offering an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting children with additional needs. Starting this September, this role provides a solid foundation for anyone considering a career in teaching, SEND, or therapeutic support.

The Role

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you'll work alongside experienced teachers and therapists to support pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Your day will be varied and rewarding--helping children to communicate, regulate emotions, build confidence, and make meaningful progress.

You'll:

Provide one-to-one and small group support in the classroom Encourage communication, focus and participation through structured routines Support learning across subjects while adapting tasks to suit individual needs Use creative or sensory strategies to help pupils manage emotions and engage positively Collaborate closely with teaching staff and therapists to implement tailored learning approaches

Who This Would Suit

This is a fantastic opportunity for graduates looking to build practical experience in a school setting before pursuing teacher training, educational psychology, speech therapy, or similar fields.

We're particularly keen to hear from graduates with degrees in:

Psychology, Education, Childhood Studies or Social Work Health and Social Care, Sport, or Youth Work Art, Music, Drama or other creative subjects with an interest in therapeutic learning
You'll bring:

Empathy, patience, and a calm, supportive attitude A real interest in helping pupils with additional needs thrive Strong communication and team-working skills A willingness to learn and take direction in a dynamic school setting

The School

This specialist school supports children with a range of needs including autism, communication challenges, and sensory processing difficulties. The staff are deeply committed to inclusive education and work closely with families, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists to support every child's progress in a calm, structured environment.

Key Details

Start date: September 2025
Hours: 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Long-term temporary, with potential to become permanent
Open to full-time and part-time applicants

What You'll Gain

Competitive pay Flexible work that fits around further study or other commitments A pathway into careers in education, SEND, or therapy Ongoing support from a dedicated school team The chance to make a real difference in a child's day
If you're a graduate ready to start a meaningful journey in education and want to build your experience in a supportive, inclusive setting--we'd love to hear from you.

Safeguarding children is an integral part of what we do and we have a stringent safer recruitment process. We undertake checks on all the candidates we work with. As such we require a current Enhanced DBS Disclosure for everyone working in Schools. If you do not have a subscription to the DBS Update Service, you may be required to complete a new DBS application as part of the registration process. If you take a temporary role with Sense Education you will be paid on a weekly basis. All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position but long term. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Temp to perm

Pay: 90.00-105.00 per day

Benefits:

Company pension Free parking On-site parking Referral programme
Work Location: In person