Overview

Senior education support worker – Fixed Term – Full Time

ID: 330207
Job Specialism: College
Location: Knapwell
Salary: 15.50
Closing Date: Sunday, 6th December 2026

Senior education support worker – sense college knapwell

Keep the career you care about. Get your evenings and weekends back.

Are you an experienced education or support professional ready to take the next step in your career without sacrificing your work-life balance?

At Sense College Knapwell, you can continue making a meaningful difference while enjoying Monday to Friday working, 9am–4:30pm, with no evenings, weekends or Bank Holidays.

We’re looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and compassionate Senior Education Support Worker to join our specialist education team, supporting young people aged 16–25 with complex learning, sensory and physical disabilities.

This is an opportunity to take on greater responsibility in a rewarding education setting. You’ll plan and deliver lessons, assess learner progress, develop Individual Learning Plans and coach other learning support staff, helping young people build the skills and confidence they need for adulthood.

You’ll work alongside experienced SEND Tutors and colleagues in a supportive environment where your knowledge, initiative and ideas can make a real difference.

About the role

  • Location: Sense College Knapwell, The Cornfield Suite, Glebe Farm, Knapwell, Cambridgeshire, CB23 4GG

  • Salary: £15.50 per hour

  • Contract: Fixed term until the end of July 2027, with the possibility of renewal

  • Hours: 35 hours per week

  • Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 9am–4:30pm

  • No evenings, weekends or Bank Holidays

  • Annual working pattern: 41-week term plus applicable annual leave entitlement, with pro-rata arrangements if starting partway through the academic year

Important- please read before applying:

Transport: Sense college knapwell is situated in a rural location and is not accessible by public transport. There is no safe walking route from the nearest public transport stop. Applicants must be able to drive or have reliable alternative private transport to travel to and from the College.

Visa sponsorship: Sense is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this vacancy. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK without employer sponsorship.

What will you be doing?

As a senior education support worker, you’ll play an important role in helping learners achieve their potential through personalised, engaging and accessible education.

Working under the guidance of a SEND tutor, you’ll support a small group of learners, helping to plan and deliver learning activities that reflect their individual abilities, interests and goals.

You’ll also use your experience to support other learning support staff, sharing good practice and helping maintain high standards of teaching and learning.

Your key responsibilities will include:

  • Planning and delivering effective teaching sessions, adapting activities and resources to meet learners’ individual needs.

  • Carrying out initial and ongoing learner assessments under the guidance of a SEND Tutor, using the outcomes to plan and review learning.

  • Developing and monitoring Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) based on assessments and outcomes identified in learners’ Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

  • Directing and coaching learning support staff, sharing good practice, monitoring performance and helping colleagues deliver high-quality teaching and learning.

  • Planning and leading educational activities, both within the College and in the wider community.

  • Developing creative ideas and activities that support the delivery of the Sense College curriculum.

  • Supporting learners to develop communication, confidence, independence and practical life skills.

  • Using appropriate communication approaches tailored to individual learners.

  • Supporting learners with behaviours that challenge, using positive behaviour support approaches.

  • Producing accurate written reports and maintaining records of learner progress.

  • Supporting learners with personal, medical or physical care needs where required.

  • Contributing to professional development, planning and team meetings to maintain a positive and effective learning environment.

You’ll have opportunities to take on senior responsibilities and help develop other colleagues, without having direct line-management responsibility.

Develop your skills and progress your career

At Sense, we believe that supporting others to learn should also be an opportunity to keep developing yourself.

As a Senior Education Support Worker, you’ll gain valuable experience in specialist education, teaching, assessment and coaching colleagues, while continuing to build your professional knowledge.

You’ll have opportunities to:

  • Strengthen your teaching and assessment skills, gaining practical experience in planning, delivering and reviewing learning programmes.

  • Develop your coaching and leadership skills, supporting colleagues and helping maintain high standards of teaching and learning.

  • Work towards a Level 3 Award in Education and Training, if you don’t already hold this qualification.

  • Build specialist SEND knowledge, including inclusive education, complex disabilities and alternative communication approaches.

  • Access online and face-to-face training and continuing professional development opportunities.

  • Learn from experienced SEND Tutors and education professionals, sharing ideas and good practice.

Whether you’re looking to develop your existing skills or explore future opportunities in teaching and education, this role offers valuable professional experience.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who has significant experience supporting learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), enjoys helping others develop and is confident taking responsibility for learning activities.

Essential requirements:

  • Significant experience supporting learners with SEND.

  • Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths, or equivalent.

  • A Level 3 Award in Education and Training, or willingness to work towards this qualification.

  • Experience working as part of an effective education team.

  • An understanding of the needs of young people with a range of special educational needs.

  • The ability to plan, deliver and assess learning programmes.

  • Confidence directing and supporting students and colleagues in learning environments.

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.

  • Good IT literacy and the ability to maintain accurate records.

  • The ability to use assessments to plan, monitor and review learning.

  • An understanding of positive behaviour support approaches.

  • A commitment to continuous professional development, safeguarding and inclusive education.

Desirable skills and experience:

  • British Sign Language (BSL) skills.

  • Experience supporting people with complex communication needs.

  • A driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Please note: Although a driving licence is desirable rather than essential, reliable private transport to and from the College is essential, as the site cannot be accessed by public transport.

Why join Sense?

Alongside a rewarding role where you can help young people achieve their potential, you’ll have access to a range of employee benefits, including:

  • Monday to Friday daytime working, with no evenings, weekends or Bank Holidays.

  • 35 contracted hours per week, providing a consistent working pattern.

  • A working arrangement based around the College’s 41-week term, plus applicable annual leave entitlement.

  • Opportunities to develop specialist teaching, assessment and communication skills.

  • Access to online and face-to-face training.

  • Leadership and management development opportunities.

  • Health and wellbeing support.

  • A workplace pension.

  • Employee discounts and other benefits, subject to eligibility.

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life.

Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

Our values guide everything we do:

  • We’re creating change.

  • We’re always learning.

  • We’re better together.

Ready to take the next step in your career?

If you’re an experienced education professional looking for a rewarding role where you can develop your teaching and coaching skills while enjoying a better work-life balance, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please complete our application form and supporting statement, demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact our Recruitment Team on 0121 393 4529 or email recruitment@sense.org.uk.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check for children and adults, alongside other relevant pre-employment checks.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from disabled people and people from underrepresented ethnic minority communities.

No agency submissions without prior authorisation.

Precise Location: The Cornfield Suite, Glebe Farm, Knapwell, Cambridgeshire, CB23 4GG, United Kingdom

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IMPORTANT: Before applying for this role, please make sure you have the right to work in the country where the role is based. Unless it clearly stipulates within in the job advert above that the hiring company is looking to or able to sponsor applicants it is deemed that the hiring employer will only consider applications from those able to comply with and work in the country where the role is based.