Complex Needs Teaching Assistant - SEN - September 2026
London Borough of Southwark, South East London
£95 - £105 PAYE per day, weekly payment
Full-time, term-time only
There are young people who do not communicate in words. Who cannot tell you what hurts, what frightens them, or what they need. And yet they communicate constantly, through movement, sound, stillness, behaviour, and body. Have you worked with young people like this before? Do you know how to listen in that way?
If you do, this role is worth your full attention.
This is classroom-based support in a friendly, supportive special school in Southwark, South East London. The school works with young people aged 11 to 19, all of whom hold an Education, Health and Care Plan. The SEND profile is complex. Pupils present with Severe Learning Difficulties, Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Condition, and significant communication needs. Many pupils are non-verbal or pre-verbal. AAC approaches, including Makaton, symbols, and referential objects, are used throughout the school day.
This is not a setting that suits everyone. It is exactly the right setting for someone who finds depth and meaning in that kind of work.
The school is one of the most respected specialist settings in South East London. Leadership here is visible and consistent. They know every member of staff by name and invest in people, not just in process. If you have worked somewhere that trained you on your first day and left you to figure out the rest, this will feel different. There is a structured staff development programme in place, and the culture values your growth as a practitioner.
Classes are small. Adult-to-pupil ratios are high. You will never be left to manage complexity alone. Therapists work directly alongside teaching staff throughout the school day, which means you will learn from people with deep specialist knowledge every single day you are in school. For someone who wants to build real expertise in complex needs, this is the kind of environment that actually makes that possible.
The community itself is supportive and genuinely warm. Staff stay here. That consistency is central to how the school operates and also serves as a signal. People do not stay in difficult roles unless something is working.
What the role involves:
- Classroom-based support for pupils with SLD and PMLD across the secondary and post-16 age range
- Supporting non-verbal and pre-verbal pupils using AAC approaches, including Makaton and objects of reference
- Delivering personal care with dignity and confidence
- Supporting pupils in hydrotherapy sessions
- Working closely with Teachers and therapists as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Maintaining detailed, accurate records and contributing to pupil progress reviews
You do not need to have worked in a school before. What matters is that you are comfortable with physical and personal support needs, confident working with non-verbal young people, and steady under pressure. Candidates from care, residential support, or community roles are genuinely welcome here.
The contract is long-term to permanent, starting September 2026, full-time and term-time only. Pay is £95-£105 per day on a PAYE basis.
To apply or find out more, contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion on 0203 011 4848 or at heeji@psinclusion.co.uk.