Autism Teaching Assistant – Full-Time
- £90 – £95 per day (PAYE only)
- Term time only, Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4pm
- London Borough of Merton, South West London
- ASAP Start
If you are already working in SEN, you will know this is not a role about standing at the side of the classroom.
Supporting autistic children properly requires emotional intelligence, consistency, resilience, and the ability to stay calm when things are anything but calm.
This Autism Teaching Assistant role is based in a specialist primary setting supporting children with Autism / ASC, many of whom have sensory processing differences, communication needs, and periods of emotional dysregulation. Some pupils are pre-verbal or non-verbal. Others struggle with transitions, uncertainty, and anxiety around learning.
The setting is structured, predictable, and calm by design because that is what the children need to feel safe enough to learn.
About the Autism Teaching Assistant role
As an Autism Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with class teachers and therapists to support children through:
- Structured routines and visual timetables
- Sensory regulation strategies
- Play-based and child-led learning
- Emotional regulation and co-regulation
- Communication support (including PECS, visuals, and alternative communication methods)
Class sizes are small, staffing ratios are high, and support is genuinely collaborative. You will not be left to “figure it out” on your own.
This is a role for someone who understands that progress in SEND is not always loud or fast, but it is deeply meaningful.
What this school does well
Many Teaching Assistants leave their roles because they feel unsupported, undertrained, or emotionally drained.
This environment has been intentionally built to avoid that.
You can expect:
- Small classes with strong adult support
- Clear routines and consistent behaviour approaches
- Access to specialist advice and training
- Leaders who understand Autism and back their staff
- A calm, purposeful atmosphere, not chaotic or reactive
This is a setting where relationships come first, and learning grows from trust.
Who this role is right for
- Has genuine SEND experience (school-based, care, youth work, or lived experience)
- Understands Autism beyond the textbook
- Can stay regulated when a child cannot
- Is patient, reflective, and emotionally robust
- Wants to commit to a role properly, not “try SEND and see”
You may be a psychology or education graduate, a Teaching Assistant with experience supporting autistic children or young people, or someone with personal experience supporting autistic children or young people.
What matters most is intent, resilience, and emotional intelligence.
If you are interested in this Autism Teaching Assistant position, apply today or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.
INDSUPP