Teaching Assistant
VINE TREE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Crewe, Cheshire
Ref: AAAD5027
SEND Teaching Assistant
(Supporting a Pupil with Communication and Physical Needs)
About Our School
Vine Tree Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive primary school at the heart of the Crewe community. Our school is built upon our core values:
Respect – Learn – Include – Enjoy – Be Treated Fairly
These values underpin everything we do and shape the experiences of our pupils, families and staff. We are committed to ensuring that every child achieves their full potential within a nurturing, ambitious and supportive environment.
We are proud of our inclusive ethos and our strong commitment to supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The Role
We are seeking to appoint a compassionate, skilled and dedicated SEND Teaching Assistant to provide 1:1 support for a pupil who is non-verbal and has significant communication and physical needs.
The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the pupil:
- Feels respected and valued as an individual.
- Is fully included in classroom learning and wider school life.
- Has the opportunity to learn and make progress in a personalised way.
- Experiences school as a safe place where they can enjoy learning.
- Is always treated fairly, with dignity and care.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing individualised support throughout the school day.
- Supporting communication using alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) strategies (e.g. visual timetables, communication boards or electronic devices).
- Assisting with physical needs, including personal care (training will be provided where required).
- Working closely with the class teacher, SENDCo and external professionals such as Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists.
- Promoting independence, engagement and emotional wellbeing.
- Ensuring the pupil can safely access the curriculum and wider school life.
This is a highly rewarding role where you will make a genuine and lasting difference to a child’s daily experience of school.
Person Specification
We are looking for someone who:
- Has experience of working with children with SEND (desirable but not essential).
- Has an understanding of communication needs and is willing to learn specialist approaches.
- Demonstrates patience, empathy and emotional resilience.
- Can follow structured programmes and professional guidance carefully and consistently.
- Builds positive relationships with pupils, parents and colleagues.
- Is flexible, proactive and solution-focused.
- Shares and models our school values of Respect, Learn, Include, Enjoy and Being Treated Fairly in all aspects of their work.
- Demonstrates high standards of professionalism and safeguarding awareness.
Experience of supporting pupils with complex needs, autism or physical disabilities would be advantageous.
Contract Details
- Fixed term contract (linked to pupil funding), with potential for extension
- Term time only
- Hours: 8.30am – 3.15pm
- Salary: Grade 4 - £25,583 -£25,989 pro rata per annum (30 hours per week)
What We Offer
- A supportive and experienced leadership team
- A strong commitment to staff wellbeing
- Ongoing professional development and SEND-specific training
- A collaborative and caring staff team
- The opportunity to work in a school where values genuinely guide practice
- The chance to make a meaningful and lasting impact
Safeguarding
Vine Tree Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
The successful applicant will be required to:
- Undertake an enhanced DBS check (including a children’s barred list check)
- Provide satisfactory references prior to interview
- Complete an online search in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education
We are committed to equality of opportunity and to safer recruitment practices.
How to Apply
Application forms are available from the school office or via our website.
Completed applications should be returned to: Bursar@vinetree.cheshire.sch.uk
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged.
Closing Date: Friday 20th March
Interview Date: Week beginning Monday 23rd March
For further information regarding this role, please contact admin@vinetree.cheshire.sch.uk.
Salary range
- £25,583 - £25,989 per year