SEND TA

Band C to F

Full time - 39 Weeks per year

Fixed term to 31/08/2027

 

Teaching Assistant - Rainbow Room SEND Provision
Cathcart Street Primary School, Birkenhead

Be Ready. Be Kind. Be Safe.

Are you passionate about making a genuine difference to children with additional needs?

Do you believe that every child deserves to feel safe, understood, successful and included?

We are looking for an enthusiastic, caring and resilient Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated Rainbow Room SEND Provision at Cathcart Street Primary School.

Our Rainbow Room supports children predominantly within EYFS and Key Stage 1 who have a range of additional needs, including children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Our children may need a highly personalised approach to learning, communication, emotional regulation and developing independence.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to become an important part of a developing SEND provision and make a real difference to children every single day.

About the role

Working alongside the Rainbow Room teacher and our wider Inclusion Team, you will provide consistent, nurturing and purposeful support which enables our children to thrive.

No two children are the same,  and no two days will be the same either.

You will help our children to:

• feel safe, valued, understood and ready to learn;
• build secure and positive relationships with adults and their peers;
• access an engaging and appropriately adapted curriculum;
• develop their communication, interaction and social skills;
• build confidence, resilience and independence;
• recognise and regulate their emotions;
• develop positive strategies for managing times of dysregulation or distress;
• access sensory and therapeutic approaches where appropriate;
• develop through purposeful play and activities linked to the EYFS framework;
• celebrate their achievements, however big or small; and increasingly access and participate in the wider life of our school.

The role will involve supporting children who communicate in different ways or who can become dysregulated and display behaviours which challenge. You will need to remain calm, consistent and compassionate, understanding that behaviour is communication and looking beyond it to identify what a child needs.

Who are we looking for?

Above all, we are looking for the right person for our children.

You will be someone who is warm, patient and nurturing while also providing the clear boundaries, routines and consistency our children need.

We would particularly love to hear from candidates who:

• have experience of supporting children with SEND, particularly children with EHCPs;
• have experience within EYFS and/or Key Stage 1 and understand how young children learn and develop;
• can build strong, trusting and positive relationships with children;
• understand that children with SEND may communicate their needs through their behaviour;
• are confident supporting children with emotional regulation and can respond calmly during periods of dysregulation;
• can adapt activities, communication and expectations to meet individual needs;
• have high expectations and genuinely believe that every child can make progress;
• can encourage independence rather than simply doing things for children;
• are reliable, flexible and willing to get stuck in;
• communicate effectively and work positively as part of a team;
• are reflective, open to feedback and keen to develop their SEND practice; and
  share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of every child.

Experience of approaches such as Team Teach, trauma-informed practice, sensory regulation, communication strategies, Emotional Literacy or other SEND-specific training would be welcomed, although further training and development can be provided.

Why Cathcart Street?

Cathcart Street is a welcoming and inclusive primary school where relationships matter.

We know that supporting children with complex additional needs can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. You will not be expected to do it alone. You will work as part of a wider Inclusion Team, with support from colleagues across the school.

We can offer:

• a warm, friendly and supportive staff team;
• a school committed to developing high-quality SEND and inclusive practice;
• opportunities for relevant training and professional development;
• the opportunity to develop your experience working with children with a range of additional needs;
• a collaborative approach where your ideas, observations and knowledge of the children matter;
• and most importantly, wonderful children who deserve adults who believe in them and celebrate everything they achieve.

We are ambitious for our Rainbow Room and for the children within it. We want our provision to be a place where children are happy to come each morning, where their individual strengths are recognised and where they are supported to become as confident and independent as possible.

We are looking for someone who wants to be part of making that happen.
If you are kind, calm, resilient, enthusiastic and passionate about helping children with SEND thrive, we would love to hear from you.

We warmly welcome prospective applicants to visit the school. To arrange a visit, please email
businessmanager@cathcartstreet.wirral.sch.uk.

Application Process:

To apply, please read the attached Notes for Applicants and School Information, and complete the Application Form.

Completed applications should be returned by email to businessmanager@cathcartstreet.wirral.sch.uk or by post or hand delivery to:

Cathcart Street Primary School
Dover Close
Birkenhead
CH41 3JY

Please also download the Disclosure Form, but only complete and return it if you are shortlisted and invited for interview.

Closing date: 19 October 2026 at 12 noon
Interview dates: 22 and/or 23 October 2026

Safeguarding

Cathcart Street Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including satisfactory references, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a children¿s barred list check, and any other preemployment checks required in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education. An online search will also be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment due diligence.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, subject to the applicable filtering rules.

Protected convictions and cautions do not need to be disclosed and, if disclosed, cannot be taken into account.

Further information is available in the DBS filtering guidance.

Equal Opportunities:

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.