SENTA stands for Special Needs Teaching Assistant. In this article, we will be discussing the roles and responsibilities of a SENTA in this post. A SENTA helps children with special educational needs in a school setting. The responsibilities of SENTA are to safeguard, observe, help and guide the student whenever required during school hours.
Working with special needs students can be challenging, but rewarding at the same time. A SENTA must be active and should be able to observe the behaviour of the supporting student and react accordingly. The student’s mood can vary depending on the needs of the student, but a SENTA must have patience and be proactive so they can anticipate any sudden changes. Along with this, you should be able to help in supporting students develop essential life skills. If you are in the process of looking for a new position as a SENTA or you are looking for a new career in education, feel free to apply today on the link below and discuss the opportunities we currently have. SENTA meaning: tailored support to pupils with autism, helps them thrive in the mainstream classroom environment
Role: Special Needs Teaching Assistant.
Observing the student you are supporting
What is a SENTA? The first responsibility of a SENTA must be to observe the student you are supporting. Most schools/colleges ask for a weekly report about all the activities you have carried out with them and how the students behaved during the week.
As a SENTA, you need to be very attentive, and proactive and use your initiative as the student’s behaviours can be unpredictable depending on the needs of the student. The SEN TA must always engage students and assist where possible. You must be a good communicator between the teacher and the work set.
Behavioural and Emotional Support
Special needs students often have complex behavioural and learning challenges that need to be overcome. Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistants (SEN TAs) should be able to address these challenges individually, depending on each student in the class. SEN TAs should create a cooperative and comfortable learning environment for the students to help them concentrate on learning.
When you support a student on a one-to-one basis as a SEN TA, there is a high chance that the student will become emotionally attached to you. This presents a valuable opportunity for you to form a strong bond with the student and support both the emotional and learning needs of the student. It is crucial to keep in mind the KCSIE framework when you are working with SEN students.
Communicate the Progress of the Student
The SEN TA should be able to track the progress of the student. This could involve tracking the progress of a group of students assigned to you, or it could be one-on-one tracking. Progress should be communicated to the subject or class teacher for each student, as it is very important to keep track of academic progress to help students progress to higher levels.
As a SEN TA, sometimes you also must communicate with the parents of the student regarding the progress of their child as the parents need to know where their child is at with their academic progress. You need to be very clear and transparent while communicating the report of the student to the teacher and parents.
Positive Behaviour to be Encouraged
It is often suggested that you need to create a classroom environment that encourages and rewards positive behaviour. Praising students is one of the best behaviour management strategies. Various forms of praise, such as personal, effect-based, and behaviour-specific strategies, can be introduced to encourage students.
You could use positive gestures such as a thumbs up or a smile to encourage a child who did well in class, without disturbing the flow of the class. Introducing reward methods and merit systems in the classroom or outside could also be helpful.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a SENTA?
Roles:
- Caregiver
- Role Model
- Supporter
- Facilitator
- Observer
- Playful
Responsibilities:
- Prepare the class for the next class
- Get the students to settle down in the classroom
- Assist the 1:1 student assigned
- Assist the group of students assigned
- Monitor the Progress of the Pupils
- Be Active and Supportive
- Design diversified playful activities throughout the day.
Suggested: How to Prepare For a Teaching Assistant Interview?
Special Needs Teaching Assistant Role/Jobs That we have for you:
We have got 2 SENTA roles in London for you.
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Roles and Responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant.
The Roles and Responsibilities of a Nursery Teacher.
Essential Roles and Responsibilities of a Maths Teacher: A Comprehensive Guide.