How to become a Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant
Our career advice page will tell you everything you need to know about becoming a Classroom Assistant.
Job Overview
A Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant is responsible for helping the teacher with classroom activities and duties. This may include helping prepare and set up the classroom for lessons, helping children with reading, writing and learning and reporting progress of children to the teacher and their parents/guardians. The children are typically aged up to 5 years old.
Typical Work Hours
38-40 hours a week subject to term times. Some staff work all year round while some take term holidays.
Income
Income varies from £14,000 to £24,000, depending on experience and whether the role is part-time or full-time.
General Duties
- Handling children with disabilitys
- Monitoring progress
- Supervise activities
- Following safeguarding protocol
- One-to-one support
- Create fun and engaging activities
What Qualifications Do I Need to be a Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant?
Entry Requirments
- For a Level 2 Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant course, you may need 2 GCSEs at 9-3 (A*-D)
- For a Level 3 Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant course, you may need 4 GCSEs at 9-4 (A*-C)
- For an apprenticeship, you may need 5 GCSEs at 9-3 (A*-C)
Qualifications
We offer a online Level 2 Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant course package which includes Level 2 Childcare and Level 2 Understanding Autism. Click here to find out more.
Work experience for a Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant
You can gain relevant Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant work experience through working with children, examples of this are:
- Community Activities- Such as brownies, scouts, football coach.
- Volunteering- Helping out at summer camps, day trips and after-school activities.
- Work Experience Placement- Depending on your education level, you may be able to gain a work experience placement as a classroom assistant.
- Tutoring/Mentoring- Providing help and/or coaching in a sport or subject.
Please note you may require a DBS check.
Tip: Make sure the experience is with a similar age group as the children you would be working with as a classroom assistant.
What Skills Does a Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant Need?
You’ll need a range of skills for a Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant role. These include:
- Excellent communication and listening
- Ability to remain calm
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to be able to build relationships
- Be able to adapt to work on different activities
- Sensitivity and understanding
Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant Support Map
