SEN Teaching Assistant – Long-Term to Permanent – South West London
£93 – £98 per day PAYE
Full-time, term-time only
Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4pm
ASAP or September 2026 start
Most people who end up working well with children with complex needs did not plan for it. They came from somewhere else. Psychology. Drama. Care work. Youth support. They found themselves in a room with a young person who communicated nothing like anyone expected, and instead of stepping back, they leaned in.
If that sounds like you, this role is worth a careful read.
The school
This is a specialist SEND school in South West London supporting children and young people aged 4 to 19. The pupils here have severe learning difficulties (SLD), profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), and Autism. Many are non-verbal or have very limited verbal communication. That means your work will involve reading small signals, learning individual rhythms, and building trust slowly and consistently over time.
Progress here looks different from mainstream education. It is slower, more personal, and when you see it, you know without question that it is real.
The school is built around its pupils rather than a fixed academic framework. The curriculum is personalised to each individual. Independence and self-advocacy are central goals across all ages, from the youngest pupils through to young adults preparing for life beyond school.
What makes this setting different
A lot of specialist schools talk about staff support. This one structures it in. What that looks like in practice:
- Small groups with high adult-to-pupil ratios throughout the school
- Personalised learning plans built around each pupil's needs and communication style
- Regular, practical staff training that reflects the real complexity of the work
- A strong multi-disciplinary team including therapists and specialist support staff working alongside you every day
- A culture where staff wellbeing is taken seriously, not just acknowledged
Wherever you are working now, if you are carrying the weight of large groups, limited resources, or a setting that does not quite match your commitment, it is worth asking whether your environment is giving you what you need to do your best work. This school is designed to.
The role
As a Complex Needs Teaching Assistant, your day-to-day will include:
- Supporting pupils with SLD, PMLD, and ASC across a range of activities and routines
- Communication support for non-verbal young people, including AAC and alternative communication approaches
- Personal care support as part of the daily routine
- Hydrotherapy support
- Observing and responding to individual pupils, contributing to their care and learning plans
- Working as part of a close staff team with clear, consistent support around you
This is not a role where you follow a script. Every pupil is different. You will need to be observant, patient, and genuinely curious about the young people you are supporting.
Who this suits
You do not need previous school experience to apply. This school values personality, attitude, and genuine commitment to working with children with complex needs above formal qualifications. People who have done well in roles like this come from a wide range of backgrounds:
- Psychology, criminology, and education graduates looking to apply their understanding of behaviour and communication in a real-world setting
- Drama graduates and those from creative or expressive arts backgrounds who are skilled at non-verbal communication and connection
- Care workers and children's residential support workers with experience of personal care and complex needs
- Learning mentors, youth workers, and community support roles
- Anyone with experience supporting non-verbal or dysregulated young people
- Those with lived experience of SEND, whether as a family member, carer, or through personal experience
What matters most is that you are calm under pressure, willing to keep learning, and genuinely interested in the young people in front of you.
Apply
To find out more about this role, respond to this advert or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.
Working with Parker Smith Inclusion
Parker Smith Inclusion works exclusively in SEND. Every consultant here knows this sector properly, which means the guidance and advice you receive is grounded in real experience of the schools and settings we work with.
Here is what you can expect when you register with us:
- Specialist SEND recruitment support from consultants who understand the sector inside out
- Access to long-term and permanent roles, many of which are not publicly advertised
- Transparent PAYE pay only. No umbrella companies, no hidden costs. You will know exactly what you are paid from day one
- One registration, no repeated application forms
- 400+ five-star Google reviews from educators we have placed