Teaching Assistant

SMART Education Recruitment; Epsom; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

Term-time only

Professional development

Job summary

SMART Education Recruitment in Epsom is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support autistic young people in a specialist SEND school. You will work with teachers and therapists to help students engage with learning and develop social and emotional skills.

This permanent, term-time role offers 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (8:15am–4:15pm), with a November 2026 start. You will join a multidisciplinary team and access comprehensive training to build a specialist SEND career.

Qualifications

• Genuine passion for supporting children and young people with additional needs.
• Patience, compassion, and the ability to build positive relationships.
• Calm and consistent approach in challenging situations.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to complete induction and ongoing training.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1, small-group or classroom support.
• Build trusting connections with autistic young people.
• Help students progress towards EHCP targets.
• Support teachers in delivering engaging, differentiated activities.
• Adapt approach to meet individual learning and communication needs.
• Encourage greater confidence, independence and life skills.
• Support development of communication and social interaction.
• Provide calm, consistent support for behaviour and emotional regulation.
• Help young people overcome barriers to educational engagement.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team.
• Promote positive engagement and celebrate progress.
• Maintain a safe, structured and nurturing classroom setting.
• Uphold safeguarding practices and school policies.

Skills

Patience

Calm under pressure

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Flexible/adaptable

Safeguarding awareness

Willingness to train

Education

Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification

Job description

Are you looking for a Teaching Assistant opportunity where making a genuine impact on the confidence, independence and lives of young people is as important as supporting their academic progress? This permanent role in a specialist SEND school in Epsom could offer you just that - an opportunity to work closely with autistic young people, supporting their unique learning and developmental needs.

If you are seeking a meaningful career within specialist education, this role is ideal whether or not you have prior experience in a SEN school. Experience from education, care, youth work, mentoring, coaching, or other people-focused environments is highly valued - bringing transferable skills that will help you thrive.

What's in it for you?

• Permanent, term-time only position
• 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Structured hours: 8:15am - 4:15pm
• Start date: November 2026
• Opportunity to build a specialist SEND education career
• Collaborate with experienced teachers, therapists, and professionals
• Access to comprehensive training and professional development
• Rewarding environment where your support directly impacts confidence, independence, and future success

The Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you will provide personalised support, working alongside teaching and therapeutic staff to help young people engage with learning and reach their goals. Building positive, trusting relationships is fundamental, with an approach based on understanding behaviour as communication and working consistently for students’ social and emotional development.

Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1, small-group or classroom support
• Building trusting connections with autistic young people
• Helping students progress towards their EHCP targets
• Supporting teachers in delivering engaging, differentiated activities
• Adapting your approach to meet individual learning and communication needs
• Encouraging greater confidence, independence and life skills
• Supporting the development of communication and social interaction
• Providing calm, consistent support for behaviour and emotional regulation
• Helping young people overcome barriers to educational engagement
• Collaborating with a multidisciplinary team
• Promoting positive engagement and celebrating individual progress
• Maintaining a safe, structured and nurturing classroom setting
• Upholding safeguarding practices and all school policies

Skills and Experience

• Genuine passion for supporting children and young people with additional needs
• Patience, compassion, and the ability to build positive relationships
• Calm and consistent approach - especially in challenging situations
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Flexible and adaptable to support individual learning styles
• Eager to develop within specialist education
• Willingness to complete induction and ongoing training
• Committed to safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people
• Ability to provide suitable recent references
• Enhanced Child DBS on the Update Service or willingness to obtain one

A Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools is desirable but not essential. Direct SEND experience is beneficial but also not essential - your transferable skills from care, support work, youth work or coaching are welcomed and valued.

About the Setting

This specialist SEND learning environment supports autistic young people through highly personalised education tailored to individual strengths and needs. The multidisciplinary team includes teaching staff and dedicated therapists - offering Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Art Psychotherapy and more - ensuring joined-up education and support.

Location and Package

• Location: Epsom, Surrey
• Contract: Permanent, term time only
• Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday to Friday (8:15am - 4:15pm)
• Start Date: November 2026
• UK applicants only - sponsorship is not availableIf you are caring, resilient and enthusiastic about helping young people thrive, this is an outstanding opportunity to build a long-term, rewarding career within specialist education.