Graduate Teaching Assistant 

Graduate Teaching Assistant

The Opportunity

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you’ll support pupils with additional needs in a mainstream or specialist school — helping them build confidence, develop skills and feel understood. It’s an ideal stepping stone into teaching, psychology, social care or therapeutic work. If you’re a recent graduate eager to gain practical, meaningful experience with children and young people, this role offers the perfect start.

What You’ll Do

Each day brings something new — and a chance to be a consistent, positive presence for the pupils you support. You’ll work closely with individual students or small groups to help them thrive in a structured, nurturing environment.

Your role will involve:

• Supporting pupils with Autism, ADHD, learning difficulties or social, emotional and mental health needs
• Encouraging emotional wellbeing, independence and engagement with learning
• Using visual aids, routines and sensory tools to support understanding
• Promoting inclusive practice and building trusted relationships
• Helping to create a calm, safe and welcoming classroom atmosphere

Who This Role Suits

This position is ideal for graduates looking to gain hands-on experience before pursuing further study or training. You might be:

• A graduate in Psychology, Childhood Studies, Education, Sociology or a related field
• Considering a career in teaching, educational psychology, therapy or social work
• Curious about how young people learn, communicate and regulate emotions
• Calm, empathetic and enthusiastic about inclusive education
• A strong communicator and team player, open to learning new strategies

No prior school experience is required — just the right mindset, motivation and a willingness to learn.

The School

You’ll join a warm and welcoming school in Blackburn — either a mainstream setting with strong SEND provision or a dedicated specialist school. These schools focus not only on academic outcomes, but on nurturing each pupil’s emotional wellbeing, independence and sense of belonging.

Working Hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3.30pm (term time only)
Full-time and part-time roles available

What You’ll Gain

• Competitive pay
• A consistent weekday routine — no evenings or weekends
• Valuable experience to support postgraduate applications or future roles
• Ongoing training and development in SEND, communication and behaviour support

If you’re ready to bring your energy, empathy and curiosity into the classroom, 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.