Teaching Assistant Level 4 (SEN)

We currently have an exciting opportunity for Teaching Assistant Level 4 (SEN) to join our fantastic central team at Orchard House High School.

This is a Grade 6, permanent post working 35 hours per week, term time only plus 4 weeks (total weeks worked are 42 per annum). The starting salary is £30,700 and the full time equivalent is £33,143.

Orchard House High School is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Teaching Assistant Level 4 (Communication and Learning) to join our dedicated Support for Learning Team. This role is open to both external applicants and current staff who wish to take on a specialist, impactful position within our school community.

About the role:

The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting pupils with a range of communication and learning needs, ensuring they have the tools, strategies, and opportunities to thrive both academically and socially. In addition to providing high‑quality in‑class support, the role includes:

• Delivering regular lesson cover for teachers’ PPA.
• Planning, delivering, and evaluating Wave 1, 2, and 3 communication-focused interventions.
• Overseeing communication assessments (e.g., TALC, phonics assessments) and implementing first-response speech and language strategies.
• Using approaches based on Elklan, AAC systems, visual supports, and other evidence-informed practices.
• Working collaboratively with class teams, the Support for Learning team, Speech and Language Therapists, and other external professionals to ensure consistent, high‑quality provision.

We are looking for a practitioner who is reflective, confident, and passionate about improving outcomes for pupils with complex communication profiles. You will contribute significantly to building a communication-rich environment across Orchard House High School.

Main purpose of the job:

• Work with groups and individual pupils to deliver high‑quality learning experiences, including therapy-led programmes and interventions aligned with EHCP outcomes.
• Support the accurate assessment and tracking of pupils’ communication and learning needs using specialist tools and frameworks.
• Plan and deliver targeted 1:1, small-group, and in‑class interventions to develop communication, language, and cognition.
• Provide reliable, well‑organised PPA cover, delivering engaging learning under the guidance of teaching staff.
• Promote independence, employ a wide range of communication strategies, and celebrate progress towards self‑reliance.
• Contribute to a consistent, whole-school approach to communication and learning.
• Maintain detailed intervention records, evaluate impact, and share outcomes with the Support for Learning leads.

To find out more about the full responsibilities of the role and/or to ensure you meet the essential criteria, please review the attached job description.