Medical & Complex Needs SEN Teaching Assistant

Sensory & Communication SEN Teaching Assistant

Location: Leeds
Contract: Temporary to permanent (term time only), Monday to Friday (8:30am - 3:30pm)
Start Date: ASAP
Salary: £92 - £95 per day (dependent on experience)

About the Role

We are proud to partner with a network of Specialist SEN (Special Educational Needs) schools across Leeds, who are seeking experienced and dedicated professionals to join their teams.

These schools follow a pathway-based learning model, ensuring that every learner benefits from teaching strategies tailored to their individual abilities, sensory needs, communication styles, and developmental stage.

Each learner follows an individualised programme guided by their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with progress tracked through observations, photographs, and regular assessment updates. Your role will be key in supporting learners' progress, wellbeing, and overall development-making a meaningful difference every day.

We are currently seeking Medical & Complex Needs SEn Teaching Assistants to work within a non-subject-specific curriculum that embraces a multi-sensory and communication-focused approach. This includes supporting learners' sensory engagement, emotional regulation, communication development, independence, and quality of life.

Teaching and learning are highly structured, with predictable routines that support learners in developing choice-making skills, expressing preferences, and building both receptive and expressive communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Support learners with complex needs, including Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), and those who may be non-verbal
• Deliver a multi-sensory approach to learning, incorporating touch, sound, light, movement, and smell
• Support the development of communication skills by implementing EHCP targets and appropriate strategies
• Use communication tools such as Makaton, visual symbols, objects of reference, and communication books
• Support learners with emotional regulation, helping them develop co-regulation and self-regulation skills
• Work collaboratively within a team, often in a high staff-to-learner ratio environment
• Provide personal care and support learners with mobility/positional changes where required
• Contribute to sensory activities such as sensory circuits and engagement-based learning
• Support offsite experiences and enrichment opportunities

Requirements

• Previous experience working with learners with complex SEN needs
• Experience providing personal care
• Patience, empathy, and strong positive behaviour management skills
• A genuine passion for supporting learners to reach their full potential
• Understanding of safeguarding practices and accurate record-keeping
• Willingness to support offsite activities
• Enhanced DBS (on the Update Service or willingness to apply)
• Minimum Grade C/4 in GCSE English, Maths, and Science

If you meet the above requirements and are eager to contribute to the safe, happy environment that supports the learning of every student, please apply directly to this advert. NextGen Teachers is an education recruitment agency specialising in SEN and SEMH. We work with community schools through to multi-academy trusts across West Yorkshire, the South East of England and London, connecting educators with meaningful teaching opportunities. We recruit for SEN qualified teachers, teaching support staff, and both short-term and long-term supply roles across Primary, Secondary and SEN schools. As a candidate with NextGen Teachers, you'll be supported by a team that genuinely cares about your career - taking the time to understand what you're looking for and matching you with schools where you can thrive and make a real difference.

Huntress does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and complies with all relevant UK legislation. PLEASE NOTE! You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to your situation before applying for any jobs. We are acting as a Recruitment Agency in relation to this role.