Teaching Assistant

Timeplan Education Group; Merton; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

TimePlan Education Group is working with a welcoming secondary school in Sutton to recruit a dedicated Teaching Assistant for the ASD Base. The role is based in Merton/Sutton Borough, supporting students with autism across specialist and mainstream settings.

You will work under the SEND team to provide tailored support, ensuring a safe, structured and inclusive learning environment. Start date is late November/early December 2026, with a long-term agency contract and potential for permanency.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people with autism in school or care settings.
• Calm, patient, empathetic and resilient approach.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to undertake relevant training (e.g., Team-Teach) and safeguarding duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized support for students with ASD in specialist and mainstream settings.
• Follow EHCPs and individual support plans.
• Use visual timetables, sensory strategies and structured activities to support engagement.
• Promote positive behaviour and help with emotional regulation.
• De-escalate challenging situations safely and support classroom preparation.
• Monitor progress and contribute to reports and EHCP annual reviews.
• Collaborate with teachers, SENDCo, parents/carers and external professionals.

Skills

Experience with ASD

Calm and patient demeanor

Strong communication skills

Team collaboration

Job description

London Borough Of Sutton

Teaching Assistant - Autism (ASD) Base

Location: Merton/Sutton Borough

Hours: 33.75 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract: Long-term agency role with the potential to become permanent

Start Date: Late November / Early December 2026

TimePlan Education is working in partnership with a welcoming secondary school in Sutton that is seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant to join its specialist Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Base.

This is an excellent opportunity for a compassionate and committed individual who is passionate about supporting young people with additional needs and helping them achieve their full potential. The position is offered on a long-term agency basis, with the opportunity to become permanent for the right candidate.

The successful candidate will work across the school's specialist ASD provision and mainstream classrooms, supporting students with their learning, communication, social interaction and emotional regulation.

The Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teachers and the school's SEND team to provide tailored support for students with autism. You will help create a safe, structured and inclusive learning environment where every student is encouraged to develop their independence and confidence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing individualised support for students with ASD in specialist and mainstream settings.
• Following Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and individual support plans.
• Using visual timetables, sensory strategies and structured learning activities to support engagement.
• Promoting positive behaviour and supporting emotional regulation through calm, consistent approaches.
• Using appropriate de-escalation strategies to manage challenging situations safely.
• Supporting teachers with differentiated learning activities and classroom preparation.
• Monitoring students' progress and contributing to reports and EHCP annual reviews.
• Working collaboratively with teachers, the SENDCo, parents/carers and external professionals.
• Promoting safeguarding, wellbeing, inclusion and positive relationships throughout the school.

The Ideal Candidate

• Has experience supporting children or young people with autism, ideally within a school or care setting.
• Understands autism-specific strategies, sensory needs and visual supports.
• Has a calm, patient, empathetic and resilient approach.
• Can support students with behavioural, communication and emotional regulation needs.
• Has strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Has experience with positive behaviour support or is willing to undertake relevant training, such as Team-Teach.
• Is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
• Is proactive, creative and passionate about helping students succeed.

TimePlan Education are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to show this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations in line with Section 115 of the Police Act 1997. You will also be required to provide 2 professional references covering at least the last 2 years, and complete our online application followed by a video or face to face interview. Empowering Learning Ltd is a committed Equal Opportunities Employer and therefore will not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation.