Teaching & Learning Assistant

WG060 Witherslack Group Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Induction training

Full school holidays

Career progression

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing support

Medical cover

Excellent facilities

Refer-a-friend £1,000

Job summary

Lavender Lodge School in Mitcham, part of the Witherslack Group, is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support pupils with autism and SEMH needs. You will help learners develop abilities and self‑esteem, using strategies like Makaton, PECs, PODD, and TEACCH.

The role requires resilience and dedication to deliver a bespoke curriculum across ages 4–11. You will join a well‑resourced environment with strong team support, training, and opportunities for progression within the group.

Qualifications

• Must have worked with pupils who are autistic and has previous experience of this
• Able to communicate in a variety of ways as 70% of pupils are non-verbal (e.g. Makaton, PEC’s, PODD)
• Experience supporting pupils with challenging behaviour and understanding function of behaviour
• Willingness to work with pupils aged 4–11
• Ability to think outside the box to deliver a bespoke, accessible curriculum
• Awareness of autism strategies such as TEACCH, attention autism, PODD in practice

Responsibilities

• Support learning for pupils with autism and SEMH needs
• Help raise self-esteem and confidence through positive reinforcement
• Use Makaton, PECs, PODD and other tools to aid communication
• Deliver a bespoke and accessible curriculum tailored to individual pupils
• Collaborate with teachers and therapists to support pupil progress

Skills

Autism experience

Non-verbal communication

Behaviour management

Ages 4–11

Creative lesson delivery

Use of TEACCH/PODD/Makaton

Job description

Up to £34,157 + excellent benefits

Those Huge Small Victories Our Teaching Assistants are fulfilled by the idea of making even the smallest positive changes in our young people, so we celebrate the little things. There’s lots of ups and downs, and to some of our young people, sitting through a lesson can be a big win. We call these huge small victories and whilst they may seem small on the surface, they add up to make a big difference. Check out this video on what life as a Teaching Assistant at Witherslack Group is like! Get out what you put in

You’ll be working with children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder/Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. You’ll be there to help them learn, develop their abilities and raise their self‑esteem. You will need to be resilient and dedicated, but those huge small victories that you achieve will be something you’re really proud of. It can be a tough journey, but the positive steps forward will more than make up for it.

As a Teaching Assistant at Witherslack Group, you’ll get all the support you need to succeed. Your colleagues will be the best at what they do, the school environments will be well‑resourced and we’ll be with you every step of the way, helping you build a rewarding teaching career.

One of the best environments in SEND Lavender Lodge school resides within an 18th Century building in the heart of Mitcham. Our pupils come from many different boroughs to attend our school and are lucky to experience ‘a life changing love of learning.’ We are proud of our pupils and our dedicated team and pupils leave us with a sense of achievement. Having joined the Witherslack Group family in 2022, Lavender Lodge School is an independent specialist day school providing high‑quality education, based in South London. The school meets the needs of pupils with a primary diagnosis of autism and additional needs such as ADHD, speech and language difficulties, sensory issues and associated behavioural difficulties.

We were recently recognised as Good by Ofsted.

Skill set requirements

• Must have worked with pupils who are autistic and has previous experience of this
• Needs to be able to communicate in a variety of ways as 70% of our pupils are non‑verbal e.g. can use Makaton, picture display symbols – we use PEC’s and PODD, have experience working with non -verbal pupils
• Have worked with pupils who display challenging behaviour but would have the will and desire to support pupils to manage their behaviour and also for you to work to understand the function of the behaviour
• Be flexible to work with pupils from 4 through to 11 years old
• Be able to think outside the box in regards to delivering lessons. We have lots of tools to help support this, but our pupils need a bespoke and accessible curriculum
• Have an awareness of autism strategies such as TEACCH, attention autism and use of PODD and be able to use these in practice

What we do for you

We know you’re going to do great things. For your hard work and commitment, we reward you with the best salary and benefits package in the education sector. With us, you’ll bring learning to life and make a genuine difference to the lives of our young people – plus you’ll get:

• Training: A full induction and on the job training
• Holiday: You’ll work hard at WG, so you’ll be rewarded with full school holidays
• Progression: If career development is your thing, most of our head teachers and leaders have been promoted from within our group
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here
• Wellbeing: a host of well‑being tools and advice including employee assistance
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high‑street discounts
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time
• Contributory pension (matched up to 5%)
• Bring your whole‑self to work

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves.

You’ll be more than a Teaching Assistant, you’ll be able to connect with our pupils because of: Your ‘can do’ attitude – a team player who rolls up their sleeves to help others. Ideally you’ll have experience working in a classroom, but if not, we can provide you will all the relevant training Your genuine passion for supporting children to learn and the impact it can have on their lives Your enthusiasm and expertise to support the teacher and work closely with our therapists.

Interested in joining us?

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong. As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference- especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way. By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow, and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Special Education / Careers in Care / Careers in Special Education / Working with Children / SEMH / SEN / ASD We are the highest Ofsted-rated provider in the country for special education and care.