SEN Teaching Assistant

SEN Teaching Assistant – Reception – Barnet

Location: Barnet, North London (NW4)
Pay: £93–£105 per day, depending on qualifications and experience
Contract: Full-time, long-term
Hours: Full school day, term time
Start date: October 2026 or immediately, subject to availability and checks

Help a child communicate, feel understood and grow in confidence.

Teach Now is recruiting a SEN Teaching Assistant for a diverse, welcoming school in Barnet. With a Christian ethos and a strong community, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference during a child’s first year at school.

About the role

As a SEN Teaching Assistant, you will provide dedicated support to a Reception pupil with autism and limited verbal communication. Working alongside the teacher and SENCO, you will help the child express their needs, navigate daily routines and access play-based Reception learning.

Your responsibilities

• Support communication through visuals, picture choices, gestures and other strategies suited to the child.

• Use predictable routines and Now/Next resources to help the pupil understand what happens next.

• Break learning activities into manageable steps and support participation in continuous provision.

• Recognise sensory triggers, allow processing time and support emotional regulation.

• Encourage peer interaction and independence, supporting transitions and personal care where needed.

• Work towards individual targets and share observations with the teacher and SENCO.

What we’re looking for

The successful SEN Teaching Assistant will bring:

• Experience supporting children with autism and limited or no verbal communication.

• A calm, patient approach and an understanding that communication goes beyond spoken language.

• Awareness of sensory needs and strategies that support regulation.

• Strong teamwork skills and a commitment to safeguarding.

Early Years experience is particularly valuable. Familiarity with PECS-style resources or Makaton is welcome but not essential; understanding and responding to the individual child’s communication needs matters most.

Why apply?

This SEN Teaching Assistant opportunity offers a welcoming school community, collaboration with teaching and SEN staff, and a long-term placement where you can build trust and see the impact of your support.

Why work via Teach Now?

Teach-Now are a widely recognised, education recruitment company. We pride ourselves on our high levels of customer service and professional development that we offer our teachers and support staff. We:

• Ensure that you will have your own dedicated consultant who will provide ongoing support and guidance.
• Offer an excellent ‘refer a friend’ scheme that pays you £150 for each candidate you refer to us after they have worked and been paid for their first 10 days.
• Pay in line with the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) meaning you will be paid equally to a permanent employee.
• Give you access to a wide range of CPD training through our in-house team of experienced senior leaders

Application Process: Do you feel you meet the criteria for this exciting opportunity? If so, please either apply below or contact Teach-Now directly. All applicants will require the appropriate qualification and training for this role. For teacher roles, we require a formally recognised teaching qualification. If you are not contacted within 2 working days, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful for this role. However, we will keep your CV and continue to help you in your search for a job within education. Good luck with your application, we look forward to hearing from you.

Teach Now operates stringent safer recruitment procedures.

We are committed to promoting equality and challenging discrimination. Teach Now is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Clearance.