Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant
- Autism & Complex Needs
- Morden, South West London
- £90–£95 per day, PAYE only
- Full-time, Monday to Friday, term time only
- ASAP start
Some people walk into Early Years SEND work and immediately feel it. The pace. The patience. The tiny moments that mean everything. This role is for those people.
It is not a mainstream Early Years position. It is not a general Teaching Assistant role. And it is not the right fit for anyone who is still deciding whether SEND is for them.
This role is for someone who chooses to work with young children with Autism and complex needs, and who understands that early support is about trust, emotional safety, and consistency, long before academic outcomes come into play.
The School
You will be working in a specialist Early Years SEND environment, supporting children aged roughly 2–5, with needs including:
- Autism (ASC)
- Significant communication needs, including children who are pre-verbal / non-verbal
- Sensory processing differences
- Developmental delay
- Early emotional regulation and attachment needs
The setting is calm, structured, and thoughtfully designed. Class sizes are small. Staffing ratios are high. Learning is play-based, sensory-led, and responsive, built around where each child is developmentally, rather than where a timetable dictates they should be.
Progress here is often quiet. Sometimes invisible to the outside world. But it is real, and it matters.
The Role: Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant
This is a hands-on, deeply involved role. You will be on the floor, inside the play, modelling communication, supporting regulation, and helping children feel safe enough to explore their world.
Your role will include:
- 1:1 and small group support
- Supporting early communication, interaction, and engagement
- Helping children regulate emotions and manage transitions
- Working closely with teachers and therapists as part of a wider team
- Supporting routines and early independence
- Providing personal care where required, with dignity and respect
Some days will be demanding. Some days will test your patience. And some days, a small moment, eye contact, a shared smile, a new sound, will stay with you for years.
Who Thrives in This Role
This role suits people who are emotionally attuned, grounded, and genuinely invested in early childhood development.
You are likely to be a strong fit if you:
- Have professional or personal experience of SEND
- Are patient, emotionally intelligent, and resilient
- Feel comfortable getting involved in play and sensory learning
- Understand that progress is non-linear and deeply individual
- Are looking for a long-term role, not a stepping stone
This role often attracts:
- Psychology, education, or childhood studies graduates
- Early Years practitioners with SEN experience
- SEN Teaching Assistants who prefer working with younger children
- People with lived experience of Autism or SEND
Working With Parker Smith Inclusion
Parker Smith Inclusion works exclusively within SEND. We are recognised for our ethical, transparent, and honest approach to working with schools and candidates.
- PAYE only, no umbrella companies
- Long-term and permanent roles only
- Clear communication and realistic expectations
We care about matching the right people to the right environments, because children deserve consistency and adults deserve careers that make sense.
If this Early Years SEN Teaching Assistant position interests you, apply today or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.