This role starts with understanding the child.
Rising Hope Education is urgently recruiting two Specialist SEND Teaching Assistants to join established specialist SEN schools across Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge from the beginning of September.
These are full-time, long-term positions supporting primary-aged pupils with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.
Working within a specialist school is very different from simply providing additional support in a mainstream classroom.
A successful day isn't always measured by how much work a child has completed.
Sometimes it's helping a pupil communicate what they need.
Sometimes it's recognising the early signs of dysregulation before behaviour escalates.
Sometimes it's successfully navigating a difficult transition, encouraging a child to attempt something independently, or simply becoming the trusted and predictable adult that allows them to feel safe enough to engage.
What will you be doing?
You'll work alongside teachers, experienced SEND professionals and other support staff to provide consistent, individualised support throughout the school day.
Depending on the pupils and class, your responsibilities may include:
* Supporting pupils with autism and associated communication needs
* Helping children access learning at an appropriate level
* Supporting pre-verbal or non-speaking pupils to communicate
* Using visual communication, structured routines, PECS, Now & Next or similar approaches where appropriate
* Supporting sensory and emotional regulation
* Recognising behaviour as a potential form of communication
* Helping pupils manage transitions between activities and environments
* Supporting the development of social interaction and positive relationships
* Encouraging independence rather than creating reliance on adult support
* Providing consistent boundaries and predictable responses
* Supporting pupils during periods of dysregulation
* Working closely with teachers and other professionals to follow individual support plans
* Recording and communicating relevant observations and progress
* Supporting personal care where required by an individual pupil
* Maintaining high standards of safeguarding, dignity and professionalism throughout the school day
The person we're looking for
Experience within SEND would be extremely valuable, particularly if you've previously supported children or young people with:
Autism | Complex Needs | Communication Needs | ADHD | Learning Disabilities | Sensory Needs | SEMH | SLD/PMLD
However, previous school experience isn't essential for every candidate.
We're equally interested in meeting people from backgrounds such as care, support work, residential care, youth work, psychology, mental health, autism services or other people-focused professions who have the characteristics needed to succeed within a specialist environment.
Because ultimately, we can help somebody develop their knowledge and experience.
It's much harder to teach somebody to genuinely care.
You'll need to be someone who can...
Stay calm.
A child becoming dysregulated cannot result in the adult becoming dysregulated too.
Be emotionally resilient.
If you've had a challenging afternoon with a pupil, you need to be able to return the following morning and greet them with exactly the same warmth.
Not take behaviour personally.
You need the curiosity to ask “What is this child communicating?” rather than simply “How do I stop this behaviour?”
Be consistent.
For many children with SEND, predictability and trusted relationships are enormously important.
Know when to step back.
Great SEND support isn't about doing everything for a child. It's about helping them develop the skills and confidence to do more for themselves.
Work as part of a team.
You'll be joining experienced school staff who already understand their pupils. Listening, observing, communicating and following established strategies will be essential.
And above everything else, you'll need to genuinely enjoy working with children and young people with additional needs.
About Rising Hope Education
Rising Hope Education specialises exclusively in SEND and inclusion across London.
We're not interested in simply finding somebody a vacancy and disappearing once they start.
We want to understand where you want your career within SEND to go, help you develop your experience and provide opportunities to build your knowledge and confidence within specialist education.
For somebody considering a longer-term career within SEND, psychology, teaching, therapy, mental health, social care or specialist education, this could provide invaluable hands-on experience.
Interview & September start
These are urgent September vacancies, with both positions due to start on Wednesday 2 September 2026.
Because of the timescales, our team will be interviewing throughout this evening, tomorrow and Friday.
You do not need to already be registered with Rising Hope Education to interview for the position.
Our process will be:
Application → Initial telephone conversation → Microsoft Teams interview → School introduction/visit → Start
Successful candidates can also be given the opportunity to visit the school, meet the team and see the environment before their first day, so you aren't walking into an unfamiliar specialist setting on 2 September.
Role summary
Position: Specialist SEND Teaching Assistant
Locations: Barking & Dagenham or Redbridge
Pay: £105–£115 per day PAYE, depending on experience
Hours: 08:30–16:00
Days: Monday–Friday
Start: 2 September 2026
Contract: Long-term / full academic year
Vacancies: 2
If you're an experienced SEND professional, we'd love to hear from you.
But if you're at the beginning of your SEND career and reading this thinking, “I may not have years of experience, but that description sounds like me,” we'd still encourage you to apply.
The right person matters just as much as the right CV.
Apply today and a member of the Rising Hope Education team will contact suitable applicants to arrange an initial conversation
Salary description
£105.00 - £115.00 per day