sendTA was created in response to a challenge that many schools face every day: finding the right Teaching Assistants to support pupils with additional needs.
The team behind sendTA has been working in schools for almost two decades through Words First Ltd, supporting schools, teachers, SENCOs, and pupils with a wide range of needs.
Over this time we have seen how the role of Teaching Assistant has become increasingly complex and challenging. Assistants are often asked to support pupils with complex needs, yet many enter the role with little or no preparation and no ongoing professional development for the vital job they do.
Schools also face high turnover of support staff. When pupils regularly have to adjust to new adults in the classroom, relationships and consistency can suffer.
sendTA was created to address these challenges by recruiting and training Teaching Assistants and providing ongoing support, supervision and training relevant to the needs of their schools and learners. At sendTA, we match Teaching Assistants with training and ongoing support relevant to their schools via the Words First training team – each TA receives a bespoke package of care relevant to their setting.
sendTA builds on the expertise of the Words First professionals, a multidisciplinary team who have supported schools in London and throughout the UK for almost 2 decades. At Words First, we have seen first hand the positive impact Teaching Assistants can have on children and young people with SEND. However, we have also seen the immense pressure Teaching Assistants are under as they navigate some of the most complex learners in schools. Without adequate training and ongoing supervision, we have seen them burn out and sadly, leave their roles altogether. At sendTA we want to prevent this by leveraging the outstanding skillset at Word First Ltd.
The team at Words First includes:
Through our vast experience in schools and colleges, we understand the challenges schools face when supporting pupils with SEND and the crucial role Teaching Assistants play in helping pupils participate in school life.
Our mission is simple – to improve the quality and consistency of SEND support in schools by recruiting, training and deploying a network of skilled TAs who are carefully matched to the unique needs of each educational setting.
We aim to do this by building a community of Teaching Assistants who are:
When Teaching Assistants are supported to grow professionally, pupils benefit from more stable and knowledgeable support. Every TA at sendTA has a dedicated training and supervision plan (carefully crafted by our TA training team), clear professional development goals and access to resources and clinical supervision as needed.
Our long term vision is to become a trusted workforce partner for schools seeking high quality Teaching Assistants.
Everything we do is guided by a clear set of values.
Every decision is guided by our goal of supporting pupils to participate and achieve THEIR goals
We recognise and respect differences in how pupils learn, communicate, and engage with the world
We value strong partnerships with schools, SENCOs, teachers, families, and professionals. Relationships are built on communication and trust.
Continuous learning is essential for Teaching Assistants to meet the diverse needs of their learners.
Teaching Assistants are a vital member of the SEND team in school. Their role is one of the most challenging and at sendTA we acknowledge the important role they play in children and young peoples’ lives.
