Complex Needs Teaching Assistant

Destination Education; Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Destination Education is seeking a Complex Needs Teaching Assistant to support a 15-year-old pupil with autism in a highly specialist 1:1 setting at High Barnet. You will work closely with the pupil daily to help access learning, develop communication and independence, and regulate emotions with a calm, patient approach.

Immediate interviews available. Ideal candidates will have experience with complex needs and 1:1 SEN support, with a focus on building strong relationships and personalised

Qualifications

• Experience of supporting pupils with complex needs, autism or ASC.
• Ability to manage emotions and provide a calm, low-arousal environment.
• 1:1 SEN support experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide focused 1:1 teaching assistant support to a 15-year-old pupil.
• Assist with access to learning, communication development and independence.
• Support with sensory needs, behaviour regulation and personalised learning plans.

Job description

COMPLEX NEEDS TEACHING ASSISTANT - 1:1 SUPPORT

High Barnet | Full-Time | Immediate Start

Are you an experienced Complex Needs TA, SEN TA, Behaviour Support Assistant or Support Worker looking for a rewarding 1:1 role where you can make a genuine difference to a young person's education and wellbeing?

We are recruiting for a dedicated 1:1 Teaching Assistant to support a 15-year-old boy with complex needs within a highly specialist autism school in High Barnet.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is calm, patient, emotionally intelligent and confident supporting a young person who may require a highly individualised approach.

THE ROLE

You will work closely with the young person on a 1:1 basis, helping him to:

• Access learning and classroom activities


• Develop communication and independence


• Regulate emotions and manage sensory needs


• Build confidence and positive relationships


• Participate safely in school routines and activities


• Develop life skills and greater independence


• Engage with a personalised programme of learning


• Work alongside teachers and specialist professionals

The successful candidate will understand that progress may sometimes be gradual and that consistency, trust and relationship-building are absolutely key.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would particularly like to hear from candidates with experience of:

• Complex needs


• Ability to use Widgets / knowledge of PDA


• Autism / ASC


• 1:1 SEN support


• Challenging behaviour or emotional regulation


• Sensory needs


• Communication difficulties


• Personalised learning programmes


• Working with teenagers with additional needs


• Supporting young people who require a calm, low-arousal approach

Cultural understanding is particularly valuable for this individual, and Muslim women with the appropriate experience are especially encouraged to apply. All applicants must have the skills and experience required for the role.

You will need to be patient, reliable, nurturing and resilient, with the ability to remain calm and consistent even when situations become challenging.

WHY WORK HERE?

This isn't a generic SEN setting.

You’ll be joining a specialist autism school specifically designed for young people whose autism significantly affects their ability to access mainstream or generic special-school environments.

The school offers:

• A brand-new permanent specialist school building in High Barnet


• A specialist autism-informed curriculum


• A calm, structured and sensory-aware environment


• A strong focus on celebrating neurodiversity


• Personalised support based around each young person's individual strengths and needs


• The SCERTS framework, focusing on Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support


• Access to multidisciplinary professionals, including Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy


• Specialist training and CPD to develop your understanding of autism and complex additional needs


• Opportunities to work alongside experienced specialist teachers and therapists


• A strong emphasis on communication, independence and emotional regulation


• Enrichment opportunities including music, art, coding, animation and animal-assisted therapy


• A genuinely personalised approach rather than a one-size-fits-all SEN model


• A supportive environment where building meaningful relationships with pupils is central to the work

EXCELLENT TRANSPORT LINKS - NO TRAIN CHANGES

The school is in High Barnet, close to High Barnet Underground Station.

Candidates can travel directly on the Northern Line with no changes from locations including:

• High Barnet -> Totteridge & Whetstone -> Woodside Park -> West Finchley -> Finchley Central -> East Finchley -> Highgate -> Archway -> Tufnell Park -> Kentish Town -> Camden Town -> Euston -> Warren Street -> Goodge Street -> Tottenham Court Road -> Charing Cross

There are also direct Northern Line services southbound towards Morden and Battersea Power Station, meaning the role is accessible without changing trains from a large number of North and Central London locations.

THIS COULD BE THE ROLE FOR YOU IF...

You want more than simply working as another TA in a classroom.

You want to become an important person in a young person's school life, develop a genuine relationship with them and help them make progress that might otherwise be difficult to achieve.

If you have the patience, commitment and specialist SEN experience to provide outstanding 1:1 support, we want to hear from you.

Immediate interviews available.

Enhanced DBS / DBS Update Service and relevant SEN experience required