Specialist Support Assistant

Suffolk County Council; Sudbury CP; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillside Special School in Sudbury is advertising for a Specialist Support Assistant to join our all-age setting. The role covers 4–19 year-olds with complex needs, including SLD, PMLD and autism, across different class groups.

You will deliver therapeutic interventions and support practice under Senior Leadership oversight. The position is permanent, 29.75 hours/week during term time, with a six-month probationary period and potential after-hours training.

Qualifications

• Experience working with pupils with complex needs, including Autism.
• Flexible and positive approach to teaching strategies.
• Able to work across classes and cover absent staff.
• Willing to attend after-school training or PD sessions.

Responsibilities

• Cover in the absence of the class teacher with support from Senior Management.
• Deliver therapeutic interventions across class groups.
• Take responsibility for an intervention to support pupil development.
• Work in different class groups and cover colleagues when needed.

Skills

Autism awareness

Job description

• Hillside Special School
• Address: Hitchcock Place, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1NN
• Salary: £27,274 - £29,071 pro rata (Grade 3 Pay Point 7 - 9)
• Hours: 29.75 hours per week, 38 weeks per year, term time only. 8.45am - 3:30pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8.45am – 3.10pm Tuesdays and Fridays (with a 40 minute lunch break)
• Contract: Permanent (subject to a six-month probationary period), required as soon as possible.
• Reference: 5506

Due to school expansion, Hillside Special School are looking to appoint engaging and highly motivated Specialist Support Assistant to join the team at our all-age special school. You will be working with pupils with a wide range of complex needs including Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD), Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD), Complex Autism and challenging behaviour. The age range is 4 - 19 years. The job will require working in different class groups, covering other Specialist Support Assistants when they are out of class and delivering therapeutic interventions.

Specialist Support Assistants are required to cover in the absence of the class teacher with support from Senior Management. They are also required to have responsibility for an intervention which supports the development of pupils across the school. The area will be decided by the Senior Leadership Team in line with the needs of the school.

You will have skills already in working with pupils with complex needs, including Autism. You will be expected to be very flexible and must have a truly positive approach to the strategies used to develop practice in schools for our pupils.

You will also be required to attend some training sessions and/or meetings after school and on P.D. Days, which are not part of the contracted hours; for these occasions, you would claim additional hours.

We actively encourage applicants to see our school in action before applying for vacancies.

Pupils on roll: 102

For more information

If this post is of interest to you and you would like to know more, please contact Lizzi Murphy, Headteacher, via email to: [e-mail] Please also include your full name and ‘Specialist Support Assistant’ in the subject line. Please also include your phone number and email address in the body of your email and we will arrange a mutually convenient time to have an informal chat and arrange a visit.

Closing date: 10am, 9 October 2026.

Interview date: 19 October 2026 (must be available to attend all day on this date).

Promoted as FJ (Featured Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the school.