Teaching Assistant - Special Support Centre (Temporary)

Our recently built Special Support Centre (SSC), for autistic young people, accommodates 12 children with an EHCP, whereby social communication differences are identified as being the primary area of need. We are looking to recruit a highly skilled and knowledgeable TA to work directly with autistic children and young people within the SSC in an autism affirming way, placing the young person at the heart of decision making.

You will work closely with the Lead Teacher and HLTA of the SSC and daily roles will include supporting emotional regulation, supporting young people in lessons across the wider mainstream school environment, facilitating completion of classroom tasks (both across the mainstream setting and within the SSC as necessary) and advocating for neurodiversity. This role has an increased level of emotional demands, so the candidate must demonstrate emotional resilience alongside an empathetic nature.

You will maintain accurate records to effectively demonstrate the young person’s achievement and progress and share this information for statutory Annual Review meetings. Due to the complex differences of the young people within the SSC, there is a need for candidates to demonstrate sound interpersonal and communication skill and an understanding of how to communicate with autistic people, using declarative language.

Candidates must display a good knowledge of special educational needs, specifically autism, the double empathy problem and co-occurring neurodiversity’s such as ADHD and Speech and Language differences, although additional training will be available.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their ability to reflect and evaluate their own practice.