Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant

EYFS SEN Teaching Assistant

East Leeds
Primary School | Nursery & Reception
Full-time | Monday to Friday | Term Time Only
Long-term Temporary Opportunity
ASAP Start

About the Role

Engage Education are currently working in partnership with a welcoming primary school in East Leeds who are looking for a caring, patient and enthusiastic EYFS SEN Teaching Assistant to join their Early Years team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting young children with additional needs and helping them develop the skills they need to thrive during the early stages of their education.

You will be supporting children within Nursery and Reception, providing tailored support to pupils with special educational needs, including those with emerging or suspected SEN. The role will involve helping children access early learning activities, develop their communication and social skills, and build confidence and independence through play-based learning.

The school is looking for someone who understands the importance of early intervention and can provide a nurturing, structured and inclusive environment where every child has the opportunity to make progress.

Your Responsibilities

As an EYFS SEN Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide individual and small-group support to children with additional needs within Nursery and Reception.
• Support children with suspected or identified SEN to access the EYFS curriculum.
• Encourage learning through play-based activities, exploration and structured learning opportunities.
• Support children’s communication, language and social development.
• Help children develop their fine and gross motor skills through appropriate activities.
• Encourage independence with everyday routines, including toileting and personal care where required.
• Adapt activities and approaches to meet each child’s individual developmental needs.
• Support children with emotional regulation, transitions and social interaction.
• Work closely with the class teacher, SENCO and wider EYFS team to implement appropriate support strategies.
• Observe children’s progress and provide feedback to teachers to help identify areas where further support may be needed.
• Help create a safe, stimulating and inclusive learning environment where children feel comfortable and supported.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will:

• Have previous experience working with young children, ideally within an EYFS, nursery or primary school setting.
• Have experience supporting children with SEN or be confident supporting children with emerging additional needs.
• Understand the importance of early intervention and individualised support.
• Be patient, nurturing and enthusiastic about early childhood development.
• Have a good understanding of learning through play and the EYFS framework.
• Be confident supporting children’s communication, language and physical development.
• Be able to build positive relationships with children, staff and parents/carers where appropriate.
• Be adaptable and able to respond to children’s changing needs.
• Be comfortable supporting personal care and toileting needs where required.
• Be reliable and committed to a long-term position.

Experience supporting children with Autism, speech and language needs or developmental delays would be particularly beneficial.

A relevant Level 2 or Level 3 Early Years or Teaching Assistant qualification would be advantageous, alongside relevant practical experience.

Why Choose Engage Education?

At Engage Education, we’ve specialised in education recruitment for over a decade, so we understand the importance of finding the right role for you.

When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• Competitive rates of pay, in line with the Agency Worker Regulations.
• Your own dedicated Engage consultant, providing ongoing support and guidance.
• Access to a wide range of free CPD training, delivered by our in-house team of experienced senior leaders.
• Opportunities to develop your SEN and Early Years experience.
• Access to further teaching and support opportunities across Leeds and the surrounding areas.

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about Early Years education and want to help young children with additional needs build the foundations for future learning, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today or get in touch with the Engage Education team directly to find out more about this EYFS SEN Teaching Assistant opportunity in East Leeds.

All candidates will be required to undertake a valid Enhanced DBS check before starting work. Full assistance will be provided throughout the process.

By applying for this role, you consent to Engage Education Ltd storing your personal details securely within our database in accordance with GDPR requirements.