Early Years SEND Teaching Assistant
- Sunderland, Cumbria
- £108 per day
- Temporary
- Full-time
Location: Sunderland
Salary: £89–£108 per day
Contract: Full-time, Long-Term
Start Date: September 2025Is your skillset more bubbles and building blocks than worksheets and whiteboards?We’re working with a specialist early years setting in Sunderland that supports children with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), complex medical needs, and significant developmental delay. Many pupils here are pre-verbal, sensory-seeking, or just beginning to explore the world around them-and they need adults who can tune in, slow down, and celebrate every milestone.You won’t be delivering lessons in the traditional sense. Instead, you’ll be using play, sensory exploration, and communication aids to help young children engage, express themselves, and build trust. If you’re patient, practical, and ready to get hands-on (sometimes literally with paint, water, or shaving foam), this could be your perfect role.What the day might involve:Helping pupils access sensory play and early communication activitiesSupporting physiotherapy or movement routines led by specialistsAssisting with feeding, toileting, and personal care needsCreating calm, secure environments that allow children to explore and connectYou should bring:Experience in nursery, SEND, or PMLD settingsA gentle, nurturing approach and excellent communication with non-verbal childrenFlexibility, creativity, and a good sense of humour (especially when messy play’s involved)Training like Thrive, PECS, or Makaton would be ideal—but we’ll support you with that too. Free Thrive CPD is available through Protocol to boost your confidence and toolkit.
LogicMelon
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