SEND Learning Assistant at Harrow Lodge Primary School

New

Job Reference #

EDV/2025/HLPS/48220

Location

Rainsford Way, Hornchurch, Essex, RM12 4BP

Contract Type

Fixed Term

Contract Term

Full-Time

Salary

£21,652.00 Annually (Actual)
Hours: 8.30am - 3.30pm with a 30 minute lunch break

Closing Date

11:59pm, 15th Jan 2026

Start Date

ASAP

Positions Available

Positions Available 1

Interview Date(s)

W/C Monday 19th January

Interview Date(s) W/C Monday 19th January

About this Role

We wish to appoint an excellent and enthusiastic SEND Learning Assistant to join our friendly and supportive team. We are looking for a Learning Assistant (LA) who is flexible, enthusiastic, shows initiative and is passionate about children’s learning; one who will join our established team and contribute to our school’s community and vision.

We require the successful applicant to:

Demonstrates experience or a strong passion for working with pupils with complex needs.

Able to work flexibly as a Flexible Learning Assistant, moving between classes in response to the needs of the school.

Experienced in supporting pre-verbal children and pupils with a wide range of SEND.

Willing to provide intimate personal care, including nappy changing.

Proven track record of successfully supporting children with special educational needs.

In addition to the above, we would like the applicant to be sensitive to children’s varying needs, be able to work under the guidance of the teaching team, Inclusion Manager and Leadership Team and, crucially, to have a sense of humour (essential in this environment!)

The post is on a fixed term basis from January 2026 - August 2026, extension is possible depending the school needs.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is also committed to ensuring that all staff employed at the school have obtained satisfactory Disclosure Barring Service clearance.

Contact Details

  Maria Haynes
  01708 448187
  mhaynes@harrowlodgeprimary.com

Harrow Lodge Primary School would like all candidates to answer specific questions for the personal statement section. For reference, here is a preview of the questions/headings:

Please describe your experience working with autistic children and/or children with additional needs. Include ages, settings, and your specific responsibilities.
What experience do you have supporting pre-verbal or minimally verbal children? How did you help them communicate their needs, choices, or emotions?
Why are you interested in this role and working in this setting?
What personal qualities do you bring that make you well-suited to working with autistic and SEND pupils?
Describe how you would support a child who becomes distressed or overwhelmed in school. What steps would you take to help them regulate and feel safe?
Give an example of how you have adapted your approach to meet an individual child’s needs. What was the situation and what was the outcome?
How do you work effectively as part of a team while also using your own initiative?
What experience do you have outside of the education system that would be useful for this position?