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SEN Teaching Assistant

SEN Teaching Assistant

Aurora Hanley School

Stoke-on-Trent

  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
23 December 2022

Job overview

Location: Bucknall, Stoke-on-Trent  

Salary: £10.04 - £11.60 per hour  (£17,706.54 to £20,457.76 actual salary)

Hours: 40 hours per week – Term Time Only 

The Aurora Hanley School is an 'Outstanding' rated innovative provider of education and care, supporting young people aged 6 - 19 with complex needs typically related to Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism and other conditions.

Due to continued growth and expansion of the school we’re currently looking for an experienced SEN Teaching Assistant.

The Role / Key duties:

As our new Teaching Assistant, your role is to support our children with their learning and general wellbeing to ensure every child has the best opportunity to reach their full potential in a caring and safe environment.

Where necessary this may include supporting with care needs from time to time as well as positive behaviour management adopting a tailored approach to the individual child.

You will be expected to establish a warm, caring and supportive relationship with pupils in order to support them feeling safe and enabling them to enjoy and learn during their time at the School, and to promote and encourage independence and personal development in pupils and maintain high expectations of behaviour at all times.

You will support the class teacher and contribute to providing high quality, challenging and differentiated educational activities and experiences through supporting the teaching of a broad and balanced curriculum aiming at pupils achieving their full potential in all areas of learning.

Like many SEN environments; your duties are likely to vary and therefore candidates will need to be flexible and be able to lend a hand whenever required.

Skills and Qualifications: 

  • Successful candidates are likely to demonstrate: 
  • Experience working with SEN in an employed setting  
  • Full UK driving licence and access to your own car desirable  
  • GCSE Maths and English Level 2/C or above qualification is essential.  
  • Understanding of the Safeguarding principles and Child Protection procedures.  
  • Knowledge or experience of pupils with SEN or SEMH/ASD  
  • Ability to adapt 
  • The desire to put the child first and treat them as an individual  
  • Be positive and creative in assisting to meet pupils’ individual needs


What’s on offer?   

  • Full training and continued support 
  • Life assurance and pension 
  • Health cash back plan 
  • Car lease scheme 
  • Bike to work scheme  
  • Perk box - offering lots of high stree discounts  
  • Free parking 


For more information on this position please contact karen.barnfield@the-aurora-group.com  / 07920 223 415 

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check. 


The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children."

 The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer

Attached documents

About Aurora Hanley School

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+44 1782 973 737

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Aurora Hanley School
Welcome to our Special Needs School in Bucknall, Staffordshire


Welcome from the Headteacher

Here at Aurora Hanley, we know that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed.That is why we endeavour to provide an inclusive learning environment for all our students to enjoy, thrive and grow throughout their academic career.By the time they leave us, every student is on their way to achieving their own goals – whether that is by developing vital life skills, or gaining specific academic and vocational qualifications.We believe that by providing the right support and building positive relationships, we can support everyone to access opportunities that have previously been denied.I look forward to welcoming you into the Aurora Hanley community soon.


Julie Martin, Headteacher, Aurora Hanley


Welcome from the Principal


Welcome to the Aurora Hanley School family. We pride ourselves on being a warm, open and friendly environment in which young people flourish. We are recognised as an outstanding provision, not just for the education delivered but for the social experience, emotional coaching and life skills development provided.We are also a sister school to our newly opened Summerfields school in Cheshire. Both schools reflect our belief that all our unique individuals need to feel accepted, understood, listened to and supported to achieve lifelong learning.To be prepared, not just academically, but socially and emotionally for the challenges that life brings. I hope you enjoy your time with us and the journey you will undertake.


Tracy Whitehurst, Principal, Aurora Hanley and Aurora Summerfields


Our School

Aurora Hanley is an independent specialist school for young people aged 6 to 19, who may face difficulties as a result of complex communication needs typically associated with Autism spectrum conditions.

Many of our students have sensory issues and high levels of anxiety that affect their ability to cope in mainstream settings, creating difficulties that can impact negatively on their emotional wellbeing, behaviour and ability to participate fully in education.

At Aurora Hanley, we help every young person to re-engage with learning and enjoy school life.

With specialist teaching and integrated therapeutic support, small classes and a nurturing approach, we give students a framework for breaking down barriers to learning.

Although we cater for ages 6 - 19, due to the varying needs and academic levels of our pupils, some may move on at different points if there is a more appropriate pathway for them.  Some pupils may move on to College at 16 if that is the most appropriate route to achieve their goals.

Our Facilities

Aurora Hanley is located near the heart of Stoke City, in the residential area of Bucknall.

The school site consists of a new, two-story building for older students and a separate primary school building. All our rooms are bright, modern and sensitively designed for children and young people who struggle in larger mainstream environments.

Facilities include:

· Specialist classrooms for science, art and cooking

· Break-out spaces and a sensory room

· Clinical and therapeutic facilities

· Fully-equipped kitchen

· Safe outdoor spaces

Education at Aurora Hanley extends into the local community and city, giving young people opportunities to learn practical skills in everyday environments whenever they are ready.

Our Curriculum

Aurora Hanley offers a broad, balanced curriculum with a flexible timetable designed around each student, recognising their individual abilities, interests and needs.

All activities are based on personalised goals to ensure they are engaging, meaningful and achievable for everyone. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in school life, by making choices, contributing to their own programmes and sharing ideas regularly.

Individual behaviour management plans help our students develop positive self-regulation and coping strategies, facilitating their learning and creating a positive school experience for everyone.

Our focus on behavioural management is supported via our Clinical Psychology teams, who work together with students and their families to explore and develop individual strengths and aspirations.

Our other therapeutic provision includes speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, with our clinical staff working in conjunction with teaching and support staff to provide holistic support for every student.

Our Outcomes

EDUCATION including analysis of achievement and destinations data.

Exam Results 2019 - 2020

· 1 student gained a grade 9 Physics i-GCSE and a GCSE chemistry Grade 7, and English Lit GCSE Grade 7. He also achieved an A level in advanced Maths A*. (Pupil had previously been out of school for 3 years, gained English Language Grade 7 last year and Maths GCSE Grade 9 last year).

· 3 students gained an Art GCSE- 2 Grade 4’s, 1 grade 3).

· 4 students passed English functional skills level 1.

· 1 student gained an English Literature Grade 7 GCSE.

· 3 students achieved GCSE Maths Grade 5.

· 2 students gained a Functional Skills Level 2 qualification.

· 3 students gained a BTEC applied science Level 2 Merit (equivalent to GCSE Grade B/6), 1 student gained a Level 1 pass (equiv. to grade 1-3 GCSE)

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Applications closed