SEND Teaching Assistant

Employer: London Borough Of Waltham Forest
Salary: Scale 5 point 12. £25,376
Location: Downsell Primary School, Downsell Rd, London E15 2BS
Contract: Temporary
Working Pattern: Term Time
Hours: 32.5 hours per week. Monday – Friday TTO.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 02/10/2025 at 23:55
Reference: SCH/25/322567

High Level SEND Teaching Assistant Level 2

Salary/Grade Scale 6 point 12

Hours 32.5hrs per week Monday to Friday Term Time only

Contract Term As soon as possible - 31st July 2026 Fixed Term (Possibility of extending at end, subject to applicant suitability, school needs and funding)

There is an exciting opportunity for a high level SEND Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated and welcoming team at Downsell Primary School. We are looking for someone who is flexible and has a positive approach to work in our Nurture Rooms. Our Nurture rooms include pupils with high level special educational needs and disabilities. Our excellent staff work hard to create a happy, safe and stimulating environment for all our children. The school is in the heart of a diverse community and we are an inclusive school committed to providing equal opportunities for all our children and staff. This will be a fixed term contract with possibility of extending (depending on school needs and budget). Please read the Job Description carefully and complete your supporting statement accordingly.

We are looking for an individual who is:

  • Highly committed to ensuring a high quality provision for young children
  • Highly motivated and able to positively contribute towards to the school life
  • Enthusiastic and can adapt to meet needs of young children
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  • Work well in a team to promote young children’s independence, self-esteem and social inclusion

    We can offer:

    • A creative and welcoming school
    • Hardworking, motivated and positive colleagues
    • A well informed and supportive leadership team who are committed to the development of all staff
    • Staff Benefits
      • Occupational Sickness Pay
      • Family Friendly Policies and Procedure
      • Tax free bike schemes
      • Benefits scheme: Sodexo
      • Leisure Centre Discount (Better Leisure Centre)
      • Employee Credit Union
      • Private Medical Care
      • Employee Assistance Programme


    We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers, online social media check and the Disclosure and Barring Service DBS.  Online social media check and references will be carried out prior to interviews. 

    All completed applications should be returned by email to sbm@downsellprimary.waltham.sch.uk

    Closing date: Wednesday 2nd October 2025

    Interview Date: W/B Monday 6th October 2025 (Day tbc)  

Equal Opportunities

Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy

How to apply

Email address and postal address for return of applications

sbm@downsallprimary.waltham.sch.uk

Downsell Primary School, Downsell Road London E15 2BS

Community Application for Support Staff - Revised