Autism Support Assistant in Chippenham)

Academics; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Full time

Job summary

Academics is seeking an Autism Support Assistant in Chippenham to help children aged 5-16 with Autism and additional needs. You will work with teachers and SEN professionals to tailor support reflecting each pupil's strengths, needs and learning style.

You will assist during lessons and school activities, encourage communication, social interactions and emotional wellbeing. This is a rewarding opportunity to gain practical experience in specialist education and contribute daily to pupils' growth.

Qualifications

• Meaningful experience supporting children and young people with Autism and additional needs.
• Willingness to learn about specialist education and autism.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with pupils.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils during lessons and wider school activities.
• Help students understand and participate in classroom tasks.
• Encourage effective communication and positive social interactions.
• Provide reassurance when pupils become overwhelmed or dysregulated.
• Foster independence by practicing everyday activities and decision making.

Job description

Are you looking for a rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people? Do you have an interest in Autism, additional needs, and helping pupils reach their full potential? This Autism Support Assistant opportunity in Chippenham, Wiltshire could be an excellent way to gain practical experience within a specialist education setting.

A specialist school in Chippenham is seeking a dedicated and caring Autism Support Assistant to become part of its friendly and experienced team. The school supports children and young people aged 5-16 with Autism, communication needs, sensory differences, and a variety of additional educational requirements.

As an Autism Support Assistant, you will play an important role in helping pupils feel safe, included, and confident throughout the school day. You will work alongside teachers and specialist professionals to provide tailored support that reflects each student's individual strengths, needs, and learning style.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve supporting pupils during lessons and throughout wider school activities. You may help students understand and participate in classroom tasks, encourage effective communication, support positive social interactions, and provide reassurance when pupils become overwhelmed or dysregulated.

You will also help young people develop greater independence by encouraging them to take part in everyday activities, build practical skills, and become more confident in making choices. Establishing trusting relationships will be a key part of the role, allowing you to understand each pupil and provide support in a calm, consistent, and encouraging way.

The position provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about Autism and specialist education while developing practical skills that can be valuable across a wide range of careers. You will gain exposure to different learning approaches, individual support strategies, sensory considerations, communication methods, and approaches to promoting positive behaviour.

This role would be particularly valuable for graduates and aspiring professionals considering future careers in areas such as Psychology, Educational Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Teaching, Counselling, or Special Educational Needs.

What You Can Gain

• Meaningful experience supporting children and young people with Autism and additional needs.
• Practical insight into specialist education and individualised learning.
• The opportunity to work alongside teachers and experienced SEN professionals.
• Stronger communication, interpersonal, and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience supporting emotional wellbeing, social development, and positive behaviour.
• Valuable preparation for careers within psychology, education, therapy, and care.
• £85-£110 per day.

About the Role

Every pupil will have their own personality, strengths, challenges, and ways of communicating, making this a varied and rewarding position. You will be encouraged to get to know the children you support and help create an environment where they can feel comfortable, valued, and able to learn.

Whether you already have experience working with children or are looking to take your first step into specialist education, this role offers the chance to learn from experienced professionals while making a positive contribution every day.

If you are patient, approachable, enthusiastic, and genuinely motivated to support young people, this Autism Support Assistant position in Chippenham could be a fantastic opportunity to develop your experience and begin building a career in special educational needs.

Salary will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, and will be in accordance with the client's pay policy.