Special Needs Teaching Assistant Reading

EmpowerED Education Recruitment – Learning Support Opportunity (Specialist Setting, Reading)

EmpowerED Education Recruitment is proud to be supporting a highly regarded specialist education provision in Reading. We are seeking compassionate, resilient, and motivated individuals who are passionate about making a genuine difference in the lives of children and young people with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties) and complex needs.

This role is ideal for individuals who bring either professional or personal experience supporting children, young people, or vulnerable individuals, alongside a strong willingness to learn and develop within a specialist education environment.

About the role
You will support pupils with a wide range of additional needs including:

Complex medical needs, Physical disabilities, Communication difficulties, Sensory needs and Autism and learning disabilities.

The role involves supporting both learning and personal care needs, helping students access education, build independence, and feel safe, respected, and supported each day.

Suitable backgrounds and experience

We welcome applicants from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds. If you have experience in at least two of the following areas, we would love to hear from you:

*

Care or support work (residential care, supported living, nursing homes)

*

Supporting individuals with disabilities or additional needs

*

Personal care or manual handling experience

*

Psychology, counselling, or therapy-related studies/backgrounds

*

Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy exposure

*

Sports coaching or physical activity leadership

*

Youth work, mentoring, or community support roles

*

Mainstream school experience

*

Nursery or EYFS settings

*

SEN education or behaviour support roles

*

Health and social care work

*

Mental health support roles

*

Supporting non-verbal individuals or alternative communication methods (PECS, Makaton, visual supports)

*

Behaviour management or emotional regulation support

*

Voluntary work with vulnerable children or adults

*

Personal experience supporting own children, siblings, or family members with disabilities or additional needs

The ideal candidate will be

*

Passionate about supporting children and young people with complex needs

*

Resilient, patient, and emotionally intelligent

*

Calm and confident when faced with challenging behaviour

*

Not phased by personal care or physical support requirements

*

Willing to learn and undertake training

*

Reliable, proactive, and a strong team player

Compliance requirement
All applicants must be willing to undergo an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and meet safer recruitment compliance standards prior to placement.

Why join through EmpowerED Education Recruitment?

Ongoing support from a specialist education recruitment team

Opportunities for professional development and training

Valuable SEN and complex needs experience

Potential long-term and permanent opportunities

If you are looking for a rewarding role where you can truly make an impact while developing highly transferable skills within education, care, or therapeutic pathways, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today with EmpowerED Education Recruitment and begin your journey in specialist education