1:1 SEN Learning Support Assistant

Do you have a passion for learning, excellent inter-personal skills and are confident, enthusiastic, calm, supportive, resilient and adaptable?

We welcome you to apply to join our team.

Our special outstanding school is constantly growing, providing a supportive, nurturing learning environment for more and more children. Due to this expansion, we have an opportunity for you to be a part of a multi-disciplinary team of dedicated friendly Teachers, Therapists and Learning Support Assistants.

This is a wonderful opportunity for someone interested in working with children with Autism who would like to develop their skills in this area through a programme of continued professional development.

What the role involves:

Situated on the Wimbledon campus, you will be working within a specialist SEN provision for secondary pupils with complex communication and learning difficulties alongside significant medical needs. This role involves working closely with the class teacher and therapists to provide individualised support for a specific student, targeting individualised learning approaches, emotional regulation, and communication. The applicant will also be supported to implement specific strategies to support the students’ communication, learning and sensory needs and in the management of challenging behaviours that can present within this cohort. The role also requires maintaining the learning environments and assisting with administration.

We offer:

·        A supportive working environment in a newly refurbished and well-equipped building.

·        Small class sizes and the opportunity to work 1-1.

·        Our Speech & Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapist, Art Therapists and Music Therapists aim to maximise each child’s potential in a nurturing and supportive environment.

·        Continued professional development and training.

·        Great staff non-contractual benefits such as free lunch once a week, termly wellbeing claims, annual bonuses and pay rises and a friendly nurturing environment.

·        Close to a good transport network.

·        UK Healthcare cash plan designed to help cover your “day to day” healthcare expenditure such as Optical and Dental bills and offers cash back (up to policy limits) for a variety of different medical treatments. It also offers lifestyle benefits and discounted gym membership.

The ideal candidate will have:

·        Experience of working with children on the Autism Spectrum.

·        Sensitivity and understanding to help build good relationships with pupils.

·        Supporting our students can sometimes be challenging, mental and physical resilience are qualities necessary for all our staff.

·        Confidence, enthusiasm and a passion for learning.

·        Excellent English skills (clear written and spoken English) along with good reading, writing and numeracy skills.

·        HLTA experience or qualification would be desirable.

·        A willingness to work towards and pass further qualifications and training around Autism and Communication.

·        Ability to build good working relationships with children, teachers, parents and carers.

·        Experience of providing personal self-care support to pupils will be an advantage. Please note that providing self-care support on occasion is an important expectation of the role.

·        Ability to promote positive behaviour in a nurturing environment is essential.

·        Qualifications preferred include GCSE, CACHE Diploma Level 3 in Child Development or equivalent qualification.

Contract terms: Permanent, Term-Time only (approx. 36 weeks)

Working Hours and pattern:  Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 17:00. No working required during school holidays

Salary: £23,039 - £26,700 pro rata, depending on experience (£18,850 - £21,845 salary for term-time, 36 weeks pa)

To Start: ASAP

Closing Date: 11th December 2023 but may close earlier if earlier applicant successful

Wimbledon school address: 24 Gladstone Road, Wimbledon, SW19 1QT