SEND Teaching Assistants – Autism Specialist School

Location: Beckton, East London
Start Date: January 2027
Contract: Full-time, long-term opportunities
Salary: £95 - £100 per day PAYE 

Are you an experienced SEND Teaching Assistant who is confident supporting autistic children with complex needs and behaviours that challenge?

Parker Smith Inclusion is working with an autism specialist school in Beckton who are looking for dedicated and resilient SEND Teaching Assistants to join their team from January.

This is an opportunity to work within a specialist setting supporting children and young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), who may have additional learning, communication and sensory needs.

The school is looking for individuals who understand that behaviour is a form of communication and who can remain calm, consistent and proactive when supporting pupils through moments of dysregulation.

This isn't a role for someone who simply wants to observe from the sidelines. You will need to be confident getting involved, building relationships and providing hands-on support to help pupils feel safe, understood and ready to learn.

The Role

You will work closely with teachers and the wider support team to provide tailored support throughout the school day, helping pupils access learning while supporting their emotional regulation, communication and independence.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support to pupils with Autism and additional complex needs.

• Supporting children who may display challenging behaviours, including behaviours associated with frustration, sensory overload and communication difficulties.

• Recognising early signs of dysregulation and implementing proactive strategies to prevent escalation.

• Confidently supporting pupils through periods of distress, using appropriate de-escalation and positive behaviour support strategies.

• Being prepared to use approved physical intervention techniques when necessary, following individual behaviour support plans, school policies and your training.

• Understanding sensory processing difficulties and supporting pupils with their individual sensory needs.

• Using visual aids, communication systems and structured routines to encourage engagement and understanding.

• Supporting pupils with personal care, including toileting, changing and hygiene routines where required.

• Encouraging communication, social interaction and independence.

• Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists and other support staff to ensure consistent approaches.

• Creating a safe, structured and nurturing environment where pupils feel supported and able to achieve.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for confident, proactive and resilient individuals who have a genuine understanding of autism and the needs of pupils within specialist education.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience working as a SEND Teaching Assistant or within an autism specialist setting.

• Confidence supporting autistic children and young people, including those who may display behaviours that challenge.

• Experience using positive behaviour support, de-escalation or physical intervention strategies.

• An understanding of sensory processing, sensory overload and how this can impact behaviour and learning.

• A calm, patient and consistent approach, particularly during challenging situations.

• Confidence supporting personal care and intimate care routines.

• An understanding of communication difficulties and the importance of adapting your approach to each pupil.

• The ability to build trusting relationships and work effectively as part of a team.

• A genuine passion for helping children with additional needs develop their confidence, communication and independence.

Desirable training and experience:

• Team Teach, Positive Handling or another recognised physical intervention qualification.

• Makaton, PECS or other alternative and augmentative communication approaches.

• Experience supporting pupils with complex autism and associated learning needs.

• Knowledge of sensory integration strategies and individual behaviour support plans.

Why Work with Parker Smith Inclusion?

At Parker Smith Inclusion, we specialise in SEND recruitment and understand how important it is to find the right people for specialist education settings.

We take the time to understand your experience, the environments you thrive in and what you're looking for in your next opportunity. We're an ethical and transparent consultancy that values genuine relationships with our educators and the schools we support.

If you're an experienced SEND Teaching Assistant who is confident supporting autism, sensory needs and behaviours that challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

Get in touch with Elise @ Parker Smith Inclusion today on 0203 011 4848 elise.harnwell@psinclusion.co.uk to find out more about January opportunities in Beckton!