SENSA

We are seeking to appoint a caring, motivated, and resilient Special Educational Needs Support Assistant (SENSA) to join our specialist SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school. This is a rewarding opportunity to support young people with additional needs to access learning, develop confidence, and achieve positive outcomes. The successful candidate will work closely with teaching and pastoral staff to provide tailored support for students with SEMH needs, autism, ADHD, SEND, and other barriers to learning. You will play a key role in helping students engage positively with education and develop socially, emotionally, and academically. Key Responsibilities: Support students in lessons, interventions, and structured activities Provide one-to-one and small group support tailored to individual needs Promote positive behaviour, emotional regulation, and engagement in learning Help create a safe, nurturing, and inclusive learning environment Support students with social skills, communication, and independence Assist teachers with classroom preparation and learning resources Monitor and record student progress, behaviour, and wellbeing Work collaboratively with staff, parents/carers, and external professionals The Ideal Candidate Will: Have experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, autism, ADHD, or behavioural needs Be patient, empathetic, and resilient Have strong communication and relationship-building skills Be able to remain calm and adaptable in challenging situations Be committed to safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing Have a positive and proactive approach to supporting vulnerable learners At Portland School, we are dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Our mission is to empower young minds and nurture futures, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. We are a split site school with two provisions to meet different needs, one at Trent Vale one at Blythe Bridge. We have an amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support approximately 140 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. As a specialist school our pupils benefit from smaller class sizes, a more practical curriculum, access to alternative accreditations and a highly trained staff team. Both sites have spacious grounds allowing us to provide outdoor education, with our Blythe Bridge site boasting specialist classrooms for Design and technology, Art and Design, Science, Food technology and PE. At the heart of our school are a set of shared values where our entire school community are supported to develop a sense of Respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Independence, show a Team Approach and look after their own Mental Toughness. All candidates are required to provide a supporting statement on the formal application forms which states clearly your reasons for applying, skills and experience for this position. At Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life. Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful. Our values— opportunity, integrity, community, and equity —guide everything we do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice matters, and every learner thrives. We are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools, proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury. Our people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes, and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled, confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster a culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real difference. You will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures. If you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team. Together, let’s make the remarkable happen. We believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary. Make a life-changing difference in one of our special schools Our special schools are inspiring, welcoming and truly life-changing places to work. Every day, our dedicated teams help children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities to discover their strengths, achieve their ambitions and live happy, fulfilling lives. Our pupils include childre