Teaching Assistant - Special Support Centre (Temporary)

Teaching Vacancies; Bognor Regis; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Felpham Community College is seeking a teaching assistant to work in our Special Support Centre for autistic pupils. You will support emotional regulation, help pupils with tasks in both the SSC and mainstream lessons, and advocate for neurodiversity, placing the young person at the heart of decisions.

The role requires strong interpersonal skills and resilience. The successful candidate will work closely with the Lead Teacher and HLTA in a collaborative environment, contribute to progress

Qualifications

• Experience working with autistic young people preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support emotional regulation for pupils in SSC and wider school.
• Assist pupils with classroom tasks across mainstream and SSC as needed.
• Advocate for neurodiversity and reflect on practice for continuous improvement.

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

Our recently built Special Support Centre (SSC), for autistic young people, accommodates 12 children with an EHCP, whereby social communication differences are identified as being the primary area of need. We are looking to recruit a highly skilled and knowledgeable TA to work directly with autistic children and young people within the SSC in an autism affirming way, placing the young person at the heart of decision making.

You will work closely with the Lead Teacher and HLTA of the SSC and daily roles will include supporting emotional regulation, supporting young people in lessons across the wider mainstream school environment, facilitating completion of classroom tasks (both across the mainstream setting and within the SSC as necessary) and advocating for neurodiversity. This role has an increased level of emotional demands, so the candidate must demonstrate emotional resilience alongside an empathetic nature.

You will maintain accurate records to effectively demonstrate the young person’s achievement and progress and share this information for statutory Annual Review meetings. Due to the complex differences of the young people within the SSC, there is a need for candidates to demonstrate sound interpersonal and communication skill and an understanding of how to communicate with autistic people, using declarative language.

Candidates must display a good knowledge of special educational needs, specifically autism, the double empathy problem and co-occurring neurodiversity’s such as ADHD and Speech and Language differences, although additional training will be available.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate their ability to reflect and evaluate their own practice.

What the school offers its staff

Felpham Community College is a thriving 11-18 local authority, mixed comprehensive with over 1500 students on roll and a successful, inclusive Sixth Form. We have high ambitions for our students and staff, and are exceptionally proud of our strong community identity, our values-driven approach, and our unwavering commitment to improving life chances for all. With modern facilities, talented colleagues and a clear moral purpose, this is a fantastic time to help shape the next stage of our development.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.