Job Description

Do you have experience supporting young people with social, emotional, or mental health needs (SEMH)?

Whether you've worked in a specialist school, mainstream setting, CAMHS, youth offending, residential care or even the prison service -- we want to hear from you.

Portland School is on the lookout for a team exceptional SEN Support Assistants (SENSAs)

to join our expanding team across our

Trent Vale and Blythe Bridge

sites. This is more than a typical TA role -- we are looking for people with the passion, resilience and creativity to help transform young lives and a

driving licence is desirable

for off-site work.

Term Time plus 5 Inset Days (39 weeks total) 32.5 hours per week

Salary: Grade 5 SCP 16-20 25,183-26,409 FTE (Pay award pending) - Actual Salary: 19,280- 20,219

Why join us?

Work with pupils who deserve understanding, care and consistency. Access specialist training in trauma-informed approaches. The structured school day is

8:45am-2:15pm, Monday to Friday

. Opportunities for 1:1 work and small group support - in and out of the classroom.

What we are looking for:

People with experience in

SEMH/SEND

, either in education or alternative settings (e.g.

youth work, CAMHS, social care, criminal justice

). Strong relationship-builders who can support pupils through challenge and success. Team players who are

resilient, proactive and ready to make a difference

.

This is more than a job -- it's a chance to change futures.

If you're driven by purpose and believe every child deserves a fresh start, apply now to join our journey.

At Portland School, we are dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Our mission is to empower young minds and nurture futures, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential.

We are a split site school

with two provisions to meet different needs, one at Trent Vale one at Blythe Bridge. We have an amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support approximately 140 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.

As a specialist school our pupils benefit from smaller class sizes, a more practical curriculum, access to alternative accreditations and a highly trained staff team. Both sites have spacious grounds allowing us to provide outdoor education, with our Blythe Bridge site boasting specialist classrooms for Design and technology, Art and Design, Science, Food technology and PE.

At the heart of our school are a set of shared values where our entire school community are supported to develop a sense of Respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Independence, show a Team Approach and look after their own Mental Toughness.

All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position.

Shaw Education Trust

are a thriving mix of diverse and growing schools including Primary, Secondary and Special Schools all working together to improve the lives of young people in our communities. We are sponsored by Shaw Trust a charity organisation that focuses on transforming lives. We're a growing group of dynamically awesome academies providing education to children of all ages and abilities. Staff across our team of schools are dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be successful, whatever their starting point in life.

Shaw Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or Support Staff employment:

An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)

Support Staff only

based on working

full time, all year

- Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (

37 days holiday

rising to 39 days

after 5 years' service including Bank Holidays) Electric Car Scheme: Environmentally friendly vehicles with our electric car scheme. Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well-being. Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands. Free Eye Tests Cycle to work scheme Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you

grow, contribute

and

flourish

in your role and in the Trust.
We know

our people

are the key to our success and so we're committed to ensuring the

employment experience

at

Shaw Education Trust

is a

rewarding

one.

Portland School

is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information

This position is subject to appropriate vetting procedures including an online checks and criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions.

All shortlisted candidates will undergo an online search as part of Trust safer recruitment checks.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CVs alone will not be accepted.

Application deadline: 9am Tuesday 24th June

Interview date: To be confirmed

We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, therefore, we encourage early applications.

Successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent, Temporary

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 08/07/2025