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Supporting Schools to Provide Consistent SEND Support

Schools today support pupils with increasingly diverse and complex needs. 

Teaching Assistants play a central role in helping pupils: 

  • Access learning
  • Build confidence
  • Develop independence
  • Participate in school life

However many schools face challenges including: 

  • High turnover of support staff
  • Limited training for Teaching Assistants
  • Pressure to quickly fill vacancies

sendTA works in partnership with schools to provide Teaching Assistants who are trained, supported, and prepared for SEND environments. We believe the Gold Standard is to have a sendTA -trained assistant working in school alongside a Speech and Language and Occupational Therapist. 

Our Approach

sendTA works closely with schools to understand their vacancies, learners, and staff teams.

We recognise that every school is different. Matching the right Teaching Assistant to the right environment is essential for building successful relationships and effective support.

Our approach focuses on:

Understanding school contexts

We take time to understand each school’s environment and SEND provision.

Careful matching

Teaching Assistants are matched to pupils and school environments based on strengths and experience.

Child centred practice

The needs and wellbeing of pupils remain central to every placement.

Training and Standards

Teaching Assistants working with sendTA receive structured training designed by the Words First clinical team, including Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Educational Psychologists. 

Our training programme focuses on developing practical knowledge and confidence in areas such as:

  • Autism and neurodiversity
  • Communication and speech and language needs
  • ADHD and executive functioning
  • Behaviour and emotional regulation
  • Sensory processing and classroom participation

Assistants continue to develop their skills through ongoing CPD and learning opportunities.

Candidates recruited through sendTA complete appropriate screening and safer recruitment checks as part of our process. Schools remain responsible for their own final pre-employment checks and employment requirements.

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Continuous School Partnership

sendTA can work with schools as an ongoing recruitment and development partner.

This gives schools a consistent route for recruiting SEND Teaching Assistants who have completed sendTA preparation and training.

If staffing needs change or a Teaching Assistant leaves, sendTA can support the school with a new recruitment search.

By working closely with schools over time, we develop a deeper understanding of their needs and priorities.