Hub SEND Teaching Assistant at Sandford St Martin's CE VA Primary School

Learn – Love – Laugh at Sandford St Martin’s CE VA Primary.

A permanent position has come about for a fantastic Hub SEND Teaching Assistant to support our expanding Specialist Resourced Provision and the needs of our pupils; it is a great opportunity to provide the very best possible educational opportunities for our pupils within a flexible, nurturing and supportive (therapeutic) setting. The role would require you to support in both the resourced provision (for 14 pupils across 2 main spaces) and in the mainstream classes. You should be self-motivated and highly organised, with a creative and exemplary approach to supporting teaching, learning and behaviour.

We are looking for a proactive, resourceful, and energetic SEND Teaching Assistant to support children in EYFS/key stages 1 and 2 across the curriculum. You should have experience of working with pupils with Autism and other Communication and Interaction needs and be able to evidence what approaches work well and how building and sustaining positive relationships, with a range of agencies/adults in the child’s life, are key.

A passion for school wide inclusion is obviously essential. You will be supporting up to 14 pupils with ASC challenges as their primary need.

If you can answer YES to the following questions, please apply!

• Are you ambitious for pupils with SEND, passionate about them achieving their potential and seeing them thrive (both with and without you)?
• Are you a teaching assistant with experience of teaching and supporting children with SEND in EYFS, Key stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (outside of your own classroom)?
• Do you have a passion for helping children overcome barriers to learning and experience of teaching and providing exceptional provision for pupils with Communication and Interaction needs?
• Can you bridge the potential gap between the children’s experience in the hub and their time in the mainstream school so that best practice shines everywhere?

What our SRP ‘Silver Birch’ Hub can offer you:

• A full time permanent role in the SRP Hub (32.5 hours per week).
• 1:2 (staff:pupil) ratio (7 staff across 14 children, when at capacity)
• The chance to make a huge impact on our children’s learning and life journey
• A workplace set in fantastic grounds
• A team of skilled and passionate staff in an inclusive and positive culture (school wide)
• Continuous professional development and training,
• Newly designed area of the school building incorporating therapeutic teaching spaces, dedicated outdoor areas and an interactive sensory room
• Highly supportive leadership team and colleagues
• A ‘shared team’ approach to support you, the staff and the children in the best ways possible
• Half termly group supervision from outside agencies to support well being and help problem solve

Our Specialist Resource Provision ‘Silver Birch’…

…was newly opened as of September 2025 to provide education for pupils aged 5 to 11 with Communication and Interaction Needs (and associated difficulties) in accessing a mainstream classroom successfully. Pupils on roll have an EHCP with Communication and Interaction listed as their primary need. The Silver Birch Hub team use a therapeutic approach in line with school policy to support pupils with their individual needs and difficulties. Everything we do is based on the formation and maintenance of positive relationships in order to build the skills and resilience needed to successfully access and thrive in their mainstream classroom in our school. The goal is for children to access their mainstream class at least 50% of the time across the week.

We believe passionately in supporting and nurturing our pupils as well as aspiring to provide them with outstanding and creative learning opportunities. You will be working in 2 generous hub rooms with bespoke furnishing, a new outside area as well having access to extensive grounds, break away rooms and a new sensory room in addition to mainstream classrooms.

If you are seeking to support this adaptive Communication and Interaction /ASC provision in Dorset please complete the application process. If you would like more information about Silver Birch and our provision before applying, then please arrange an appointment with Mrs Emma Roberts (Head teacher).

Dorset Council’s description

Provision Overview

A Specialist Resourced Provision for Communication and Interaction offers a comprehensive and inclusive educational environment tailored to meet the individual needs of pupils experiencing difficulties in expressing themselves, understanding others, or engaging socially, which impact their learning. The provision is at the heart of the school and a centre for inclusive practice to blossom, benefitting the wider school community and curriculum. 

Pupils placed in the SRP are on the school roll within a class or tutor group and receive at least 50% of their curriculum in mainstream lessons. This approach should promote an ethos where communication and interaction differences are accepted and understood, encouraging pupils to develop and progress.

Pupils supported by the SRP for C&I access specialist teaching and programmes that support communication and interaction to enable full participation in the school curriculum. Evidence-based small group and one-to-one interventions compliment high-quality teaching. Pupils benefit from daily support provided by appropriately skilled teaching staff, as well as opportunities for meaningful integration within the school community.

Pupils have access to appropriate resources, ongoing review and assessment procedures, and a coordinated approach to multi-agency support involving parents, Health Services, and Children’s Services. There is regular and effective joint working and planning between the SRP and Dorset Council colleagues, including Educational Psychologists and Specialist Teachers. As such, staff across the school have opportunities to build awareness of the needs of children with communication and interaction difficulties, and the accompanying emotional and social impacts.

The provision will ensure access to all curriculum areas and a wide range of extracurricular activities for all pupils. There shall be a focus on developing good and trusting relationships so that staff know their children and young people well and so understand what factors may be driving behaviour and learning needs and what can be done to address them.