sen teaching assistant.

£90 - £95 per day

Cambridge

Are you an exceptionally experienced, skilled, and resilient Teaching Assistant ready to dedicate your expertise to a specialist Complex Care/PMLD setting in the Cambridge area?

Do you thrive on the challenge of supporting students with the most profound and complex Special Educational Needs (SEN), requiring deep personal care, therapeutic intervention, and the highest levels of dedicated support?

We are seeking a proactive and profoundly committed individual to join a highly supportive and dedicated Complex Needs school community in Cambridge. If you are passionate about providing a structured, nurturing, and success-driven learning environment for students with significant medical and learning needs, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity

A fantastic, immensely rewarding opening exists for an experienced Complex Care SEN TA to work within a well-regarded, specialist SEN School in Cambridge. This crucial role involves supporting pupils across various key stages who have an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) encompassing Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), complex medical needs, severe sensory impairments, and associated communication needs.

Your contribution will be central to helping students access the world around them, engage meaningfully with a highly differentiated curriculum (P-Scales/Engagement Model), develop vital sensory interaction skills, and experience comfort and well-being. You will be instrumental in creating a calm, safe, and predictable environment, typically supporting pupils on a 1:1 or small group basis within a specialist, multi-sensory classroom setting.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide tailored, direct support to named pupils, meticulously implementing their individual learning, communication, sensory, and therapeutic/care targets as outlined in their EHCP.
• Assist the class teacher in preparing and adapting a differentiated curriculum, heavily utilising sensory resources, light stimulation, hydrotherapy, and rebound therapy (training provided).
• Provide a high standard of intimate and personal care, including feeding, moving and handling (using hoists), and support with medical administration, strictly following care plans (training essential/provided).
• Facilitate and support the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) methods, such as objects of reference, tactile symbols, and body signing.
• Act as a key worker and reliable adult, ensuring student safety and comfort throughout the day, including during transitions and scheduled therapy sessions.
• Maintain accurate, professional records of pupil progress, sensory needs, well-being observations, and care incidents for EHCP reviews and professional discussions.
• Collaborate effectively with class teachers, nurses, therapists (e.g., Physiotherapy, Speech and Language), and external agencies to ensure a truly holistic, person-centred approach to student development.

Essential Profile

• Significant previous classroom or care support experience (paid or voluntary) supporting children or young people with Complex Needs, PMLD, Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), and/or complex medical conditions.
• A proven track record of using sensory-based intervention techniques and a genuine understanding of the needs of non-verbal learners and those accessing pre-formal learning.
• Essential practical experience/training in providing personal care and/or Moving and Handling (Hoisting).
• High levels of patience, profound empathy, and physical resilience, coupled with a calm and consistent approach to routines.
• Excellent observation and communication skills, and the ability to work confidently and proactively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Possession of an Enhanced Child DBS on the update service (or willingness to complete one promptly).

Benefits of Joining Us

• A highly competitive daily pay rate of £90 - £95, reflective of your specialist complex care experience and dedication.
• The opportunity to work in a vibrant, purpose-built SEN school in Cambridge that prioritises staff well-being and continuous professional growth.
• Access to specialist, accredited training in areas such as Complex Manual Handling, Gastrostomy Feeding, Seizure Management, and specific communication aids.
• A profoundly rewarding role where you will see tangible, life-changing progress and moments of engagement in the students you support.
• £300 Refer A Friend scheme (terms apply).

How to Apply

If you are a dedicated, specialist support professional ready to make a significant positive impact, please apply immediately with your CV or contact Neeraj at neeraj.kommaravalli@randstad.co.uk for more information.

We are the UK market leader for recruitment in education. We have nearly two decades of experience helping teachers and support staff find temporary and permanent roles in schools, colleges, and nurseries. We partner with over 2,500 schools each week, supporting more than 135,000 children every day across the country, which allows us to find the right match for your skills.