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Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Special needs classroom assistant, special needs learning support assistant

Special educational needs teaching assistants (TAs) support teachers to help children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Average salary (a year)

£21,000 Starter

to

£27,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

24 to 40 term time

You could work

evenings occasionally

Meet Ollie

Ollie talks about the roles and tasks of a special educational needs teaching assistant.

2 minute 10 second watch

View transcript

Hi, I'm Ollie and I’m a teaching assistant for special educational needs students for Seven Hills School.

Originally I came from actually working the live music events industry which I was in for 11 years. And basically the reason why I thought of being a TA and then moving up on to cover supervisor was, is to be honest I'm dyslexic as well. So that meant that actually being able to help kids nowadays and help support them. I couldn't think of anything better.

So some of the tasks that I can be doing, it can be as simple as like doing, say, some of the fantastic displays that are like around the room and stuff like that. Getting classroom set, like laminating. Can be just as simple as like supporting a child one to one or a student if they're not having a great time. You just literally take them out of the room, have a bit of space, chill out time. It can be you literally supporting them in their lesson. Say if it's actual PE, stuff like that.

It can also be you helping the teacher in coming up with different ideas. Say if they're thinking of creative ways to try and come up with, like problem solving or come up with a different way of teaching something, again, it can open up that side to it.

Yeah, it's kind of endless, to be honest, with what a TA can be asked with, because you might be asked for like personal care or to help some child with their food, or it might just be a case of if they struggle with interaction with strangers, that you might have to go and help aid them by getting something for them or asking. Being that voice for them, if they don't have that voice themselves.

When you start working closely with some of these different students, which might have different, all different varieties of learning difficulties and disabilities, it's that moment where you kind of realise that you’ve got that connection, and they realise that you are there to help each other.

It might be the case that, like, you've had somebody who's, they've been struggling with a certain task all this time, then suddenly from them working close with you, you explaining it, breaking it down in different ways, all of a sudden it clicks and they've just got that. That's because of your hand. That's because of you taking that time and patience to help them achieve something that they thought was not even possible.

Even including when I was my own boss and going on different adventures, touring across the UK and stuff like that with events, it still wasn't as rewarding as what my 2 years has been. Especially the past year, working properly with SEN, fully getting integrated to know everyone like, yeah, I wouldn't ever want to go to any different job, any different role.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Special educational needs (SEN) teaching assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • volunteering
  • applying directly

College

You could do a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need to find a trainee position. 

Examples include:

  • supporting teaching and learning in schools
  • childcare and education - early years educator
  • T Level in Education and Early Years

You may be able to get a placement working with children with special educational needs while doing your course.

Many people get qualifications or experience working with children in mainstream schools, then move on to work with children with special educational needs.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Teaching Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Early Years Educator Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

More Information

Volunteering

You could get experience by volunteering in a local school or with a community organisation.

Volunteering is an excellent way to get experience of working with children and young people. It can also help when applying for jobs or training courses.

Direct Application

You can apply for special needs teaching assistant jobs if you have experience of working with disabled children or children who have learning difficulties.

You can search for schools in your area then look for job vacancies on their websites.

Each school sets its own entry requirements, though you'll usually need GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths.

Contracts are often term-time only and if you're employed through an agency, your pay may be based on a daily rate.

More Information

Career tips

The ability to communicate with children and young people using British Sign Language or Makaton can be helpful, though your employer may offer you training in this.

It's also helpful to understand what kind of support disabled students and those with particular conditions might need, such as assistive learning and communication technology.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the National Association for Special Educational Needs (NASEN) for advice about working in special educational needs and for professional development opportunities.

Further information

You can get more details about a career in special educational needs through:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • sensitivity and understanding
  • to enjoy working with other people
  • the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As an SEN teaching assistant, you would:

  • prepare learning materials
  • adapt teaching support to meet each student's needs
  • support group and class activities
  • look after children's physical, social and emotional welfare
  • create a safe and interesting environment for students
  • update records and attend review meetings
  • work closely with teachers and other professionals like speech and language therapists

Working environment

You could work at a school, at a special needs school or at a pupil referral unit.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

Your school will support you with specific training, like British Sign Language and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) courses. They may also provide training on conditions like dyslexia or autism.

With experience, you could train to become a higher level teaching assistant (HLTA).

With further study you could become a fully qualified special educational needs or mainstream teacher. You can learn about routes into teaching from Get Into Teaching.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £11,648 a year Annually
  • Location: MILL HILL, LONDON

Nursery Practitioner Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £13,312 a year Annually
  • Location: LONDON
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Level 3 Certificate In Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools

  • Provider: FARNBOROUGH COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: Farnborough

Supporting Teaching & Learning in Schools Level 2

  • Provider: EALING, HAMMERSMITH & WEST LONDON COLLEGE
  • Start date: 08 September 2025
  • Location: London
Find courses near you

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