1:1 SEND Learning Support Assistant

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy; Leeds; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, is seeking a SEND Learning Support Assistant to work 1:1 with a pupil with complex needs including autism. The role is full-time and fixed-term, starting as soon as possible, in Leeds.

The post requires understanding of autism, excellent communication via non-verbal tools, and the ability to support a pupil across all environments with patience and initiative. A proactive approach to home-school liaison is essential.

Qualifications

• Understanding of Autism and ability to adapt tasks for severe cognitive delays, motor skills and sensory needs.
• Proficiency in using non-verbal communication tools—such as pictorial cues, signing, and pointing—and breaking down instructions into small steps.
• Ability to provide constant 1:1 supervision across all school environments.
• Patience to support a child who tires easily and to recognise distress and respond calmly.

Responsibilities

• Support the pupil on a 1:1 basis to access the curriculum and reach potential.
• Facilitate peer interactions and maintain daily communication between home and school.
• Implement EHCP targets and adapt daily learning to immediate needs.

Skills

Autism awareness

1:1 support

Non-verbal communication

Patience & calmness

Education

Level 3 Teaching Assistant

Tools

Pictorial cues

Sign language

Task breakdown

Job description

ImmaculateHeart Catholic Primary School a Voluntary Academy of St Gregory the GreatMulti-Academy Trust is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and creative SEND LearningSupport Assistant to work on a one to one level with a pupil with complex needsincluding Autism. Your role will be tosupport the pupil and to ensure that they access the curriculum and reach theirfull potential. This is a varied rolethat will require flexibility and a positive attitude. Starting as soon as possible, this is a full-timefixed term role.

This is a fantastic opportunityfor a committed SEND Learning Support Assistant to make a difference to a pupil’sexperience of education.

To beconsidered for SEND Learning Support Assistant position, you will have:

• Anunderstanding of Autism and the ability to adapt tasks to severe cognitivedelays, poor motor skills, and sensory-seeking behaviours.
• Proficiencyin using non-verbal communication tools—such as pictorial cues, signing, andpointing—and the ability to break down instructions into very small, simplesteps
• Thecapacity to provide constant, highly focused 1:1 supervision across all schoolenvironments
• Thepatience to gently support a child who tires easily, alongside the ability torecognise and soothe distress when they become overwhelmed, withdrawn, orunable to verbalise feelings.
• The abilityto remain completely regulated and composed when the child is experiencingdistress or overstimulation.
• Aproactive approach to facilitating peer interactions and a dedication tomaintaining daily, detailed communication between home and school to monitorongoing physical and learning requirements.
• Understandingof EHCP Implementation: Experience working directly from an EHCP to implementspecific, measurable targets and adapting daily learning to suit a child’simmediate needs.
• Initiative and act accordingly andset high expectations of the pupil you will work with.