Learning and Support / SEN Assistant x 3 - Seaton Primary School
- East Devon, Devon
- Multiple Terms
- £13.92 - £14.14 per hour
Could you be the person who helps a child feel understood, included and able to succeed at school?
We are looking for three enthusiastic, caring and committed Learning and Support Assistants to join our friendly and supportive team at Seaton Primary School.
Our Learning and Support Assistants are a hugely important part of school life. They support learning, build confidence and independence, help children navigate challenges and can make an enormous difference to a child’s experience of school.
We currently have three different opportunities, offering a mixture of classroom-based and pupil-specific work. Whether you are an experienced Teaching Assistant, have experience supporting children with additional needs, or are looking for an opportunity to develop skills as part of a supportive school team, we would love to hear from you.
Our vacancies
1. Upper Key Stage 2 Learning and Support Assistant
17 hours per week | Temporary for the 2026/27 academic year
Working as part of our Upper Key Stage 2 team, you will support teaching and learning across the classroom, working with individuals and groups and helping children to make the most of their final years at primary school.
This could be an ideal opportunity for someone looking for a rewarding part-time, term-time role within a supportive school environment.
2. Named-to-Child SEN Learning and Support Assistant
32.5 hours per week | Temporary, named to an individual child
This is an exciting opportunity to become a key adult for a child at the beginning of their primary school journey, helping them to access learning, develop their independence and feel happy, included and successful at school.
We are particularly looking for someone with the experience, skills and commitment to build a positive and trusting relationship with the child, alongside the willingness and skillset to potentially continue supporting them as they progress through the school.
This is a temporary, named-to-child appointment and its continuation cannot be guaranteed. However, the nature of the role means that it has the potential to provide continuity over a significant part of the child’s primary education, subject to their continued attendance at the school and ongoing support needs and associated provision/funding.
3. Named-to-Child SEN Learning and Support Assistant
30 hours per week | Temporary, named to an individual child
This role offers the opportunity to become a consistent and trusted key adult for a child already progressing through their primary education.
You will provide individualised support to help the child access learning, develop confidence and independence and participate successfully in the wider life of their class and school.
This is a temporary post named to an individual child, but there is the potential for the role to continue over several academic years, subject to the child’s continued attendance and ongoing support needs and associated provision/funding.
Helping children with additional needs to thrive
For our named-to-child roles, we are looking for applicants with experience and a good understanding of autism and supporting children with a range of additional needs.
Every child is different. You will be able to adapt your approach to individual learning, communication, sensory and emotional needs and understand that children’s behaviour can sometimes be a way of communicating those needs.
We are looking for people who can build warm and positive relationships while encouraging children to develop their own confidence and independence. You’ll be patient, adaptable and resilient and able to remain calm, curious and positive when situations are challenging.
Above all, you will care about helping children achieve their best and giving them the support, encouragement and opportunities they need to thrive.
How we will Support You
We know that supporting children with additional needs can be incredibly rewarding, but we also know how important it is that the adults doing that work feel well supported.
At Seaton Primary School, you won’t be doing it alone.
You’ll work alongside and have support from our:
- dedicated full-time SENCO;
- Inclusion Mentor and dedicated inclusion provision, providing additional support and an alternative environment for children when they need it;
- pastoral care team;
- sensory resources and equipment to support a range of individual needs;
- experienced teachers and Teaching Assistants; and
- wider school team.
We really do work as one school team. From teachers and Teaching Assistants to our pastoral, office, kitchen and premises staff, everyone plays a part in creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for our children.
We are also committed to developing our staff. You will have opportunities to build your knowledge and skills through training and professional development, including INSET days, safeguarding and first-aid training, whole-team development and other learning opportunities relevant to your role.
Part of a wider team
Our named-to-child SEN Learning and Support Assistants provide valuable consistency for individual children, while also being part of the wider classroom and Teaching teams.
You will have opportunities to support individuals, groups and the whole class. Our staff work collaboratively and flexibly, and support may be shared or rotated where appropriate.
This helps us respond to children’s changing needs, promotes children’s independence, enables colleagues to share their skills and expertise and provides variety and balance within the working day.
Being part of our school team also means supporting children at the important times outside the classroom. Depending on the needs of the school, your working day may include supporting pupils in the dining hall at lunchtime, during break or lunchtime play, or in other areas of the school.
We ask all our Learning an Support Assistants to be flexible and willing to work where their support is most valuable to our children. Duties and breaks are organised as part of the working day, and staff will receive the appropriate rest breaks applicable to their working pattern.
Working pattern
Our pupils are in school between approximately 8.45am and 3.20pm. The hours of the 30 and 32.5-hour positions will generally be worked across five days, reflecting the key points at which pupils require support throughout the school day.
The 17-hour role will be worked on an agreed part-time pattern.
There may be some flexibility around precise working arrangements, timings and hours subject to the needs of the pupils and the school, and these can be discussed with shortlisted candidates.
All three positions are term-time only.
About the appointments
All three vacancies are temporary appointments.
The 17-hour position is temporary for the 2026/27 academic year.
The 30-hour and 32.5-hour positions are temporary, named-to-child appointments. Their continuation is dependent upon the relevant child’s continued attendance at Seaton Primary School and their ongoing support requirements and associated provision/funding. We therefore cannot guarantee the duration of either appointment.
However, both named-to-child positions have the potential to provide meaningful continuity over a number of academic years, and we would particularly welcome applicants who are excited by the opportunity to develop their skills and support a child as they progress through primary school.
Seaton Primary is a busy and evolving school, and our staffing needs naturally change over time. Other temporary and permanent opportunities may arise during your time with us, providing opportunities to continue developing your experience and career within our school. Any future appointment cannot be guaranteed and would be subject to the appropriate recruitment process.
About you
You will:
- Enjoy working with children and genuinely want to help them succeed;
- Be able to build positive and trusting relationships;
- Have a patient, calm and adaptable approach;
- Work well as part of a team and be willing to work flexibly across the school;
- Understand the importance of encouraging children’s independence;
- Communicate effectively with teachers, colleagues and other professionals; and
- Share our commitment to inclusion and ensuring every child can participate in school life.
For the named-to-child positions, relevant experience and understanding of autism and additional needs will be particularly important.
Please see the attached Generalist Teaching Assistant (Level 2), Grade C Job Description and Person Specification for the full requirements of the role. The Devon job description also reflects the breadth we're advertising here, including supporting pupils with SEND, individuals and groups, promoting independence and inclusion, and supervising children outside lesson times, including at lunchtime.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding checks will be undertaken as part of the recruitment process.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Online searches may be done as part of pre-recruitment checks.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the school’s safer recruitment procedures and satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check with the appropriate barred list check, satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work checks and any other checks relevant to the role.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete the appropriate self-declaration as part of the recruitment process. In accordance with current statutory safeguarding guidance, the school will also consider carrying out an online search of publicly available information as part of its due diligence on shortlisted candidates.
Please refer to Seaton Primary School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy as part of the application information.
Seaton Primary School is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.
Interested? We’d love to hear from you
You are very welcome to apply for one, more than one, or all three vacancies.
Please complete the Devon application form, available from HR@Seatonprimary.org.uk or the school website Seaton Primary School - Home. In your supporting statement or covering letter, please tell us if there is a particular position you would like to be considered for. Alternatively, simply let us know that you would be happy for us to consider your application across all three opportunities.
We would particularly like to hear about any experience, knowledge or skills you could bring to our team, including experience of autism, SEND, inclusion or supporting children’s learning and emotional development.
Closing Date: Wednesday 7 October 2026.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the current needs of our pupils, applications will be reviewed as they are received and suitable candidates may be invited to interview throughout the advertising period. Appointments may therefore be made before the advertised closing date and the school reserves the right to close the vacancies early if suitable appointments are made.
We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as they are able. If you are interested in joining us but have a notice period or are unable to start immediately, please don’t let that discourage you from applying. We are interested in finding the right people for our school.
Job Details
- OrganisationDevon County Schools
- Work LocationEast DevonDevon
- Work Postcode
EX12 2HF
- Reference
AC7026
- Occupational GroupEducation Support
- Salary Details
£13.92 - £14.14 per hour
- Job TermTemporary
- Appointment TypeFull TimePart Time
- Hours
Please see the advert text regarding the hours of work
- Closing Date
06/10/2026
- DBS Check Required
Yes