Autism Teaching Assistant - Special Educational Needs

Preston School; Yeovil; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 19,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cycle to Work

Free eye tests

Employee benefits platform

Job summary

Preston School in Yeovil, Somerset, is seeking an inspirational Autism Teaching Assistant to join the SEND team in the AEPC autism base. You will support students throughout their time with us, helping them access learning and develop independence.

This permanent, full-time role offers a collaborative staff community, opportunities for professional development, and a focus on consistent behaviour routines and high-quality teaching. Start date: ASAP.

Qualifications

• Inspire students as an Autism Teaching Assistant.
• Support high-quality teaching with targeted intervention.
• Able to work with small groups and one-to-one sessions.
• Strong English and Maths skills for clear family communication.

Skills

Autism support

Small group work

One-to-one support

English skills

Maths skills

Job description

# Autism Teaching Assistant - Special Educational NeedsEmployer: Preston SchoolLocation: Yeovil, SomersetContract Type: PermanentHours: Full TimeSalary: £18,421 - £19,011Posted: 10th September 2026Expires: 22nd October 2026 11:59 PMStart Date: As Soon As PossibleJob ID: 1573161Job Reference: AEPC TA - June 2026* Share :* Print**Accountable to:** SENDCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator)**Contract Type:** Full Time – Permanent, with Part Time working considered for an exceptional candidate**Start Date: ASAP****Salary:** £18,421 - £19,011 (FTE £24,790 - £25,584)We are seeking an inspirational Teaching Assistant to join our growing SEND team and to help support students in our Autism base (AEPC) throughout their time with us. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a school with some of the strongest student outcomes in Somerset – both in terms of academic achievement and progression onto meaningful post-16 education and training. In September 2025, our outcomes placed Preston among the top three schools in Somerset for Attainment 8, this role helps ensure that our students with SEND can attain just as well.Preston School has a clear and ambitious vision: To Achieve Excellence, by Inspiring Ambition – For Every Student, Every Day. We are committed to delivering outstanding education and wider opportunities for our students, and we seek a Teaching Assistant who wholeheartedly shares this vision.Based in the heart of Somerset, the successful applicant will benefit from beautiful surroundings, a strong commitment to continued professional development and join a welcoming and supportive staff community.We encourage early applications for this role as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.**What We Are Looking For:**An inspirational Autism Teaching AssistantA commitment to securing strong student outcomes, by supporting consistently high-quality teaching and targeted intervention work when requiredAn ability to work with small groups of students and on a one-to-one basis as requiredStrong English and Maths skills, to enable the effective support of students and clear communication with their families**What We Offer:**A school ranked in the top 3 in Somerset for academic attainment in the last academic yearClear and consistent behaviour management routines, with centralised detentionsA focus on workload and wellbeing, with strong centralised curriculum planningStrong links within the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership which support strong continued professional development and further career opportunities for our staffA Cycle to Work scheme and free eye tests, along with access to an employee benefits platform### AttachmentsData Protection and Data Breach PolicyGeneric Document 1MNSP Recruitment BrochurePreston School Press Release - January 2023 Ofsted inspectionTrust Annual Report 2025### Safeguarding Statement:Preston School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.