SEND Teaching Assistant – Specialist Autism School – Leatherhead, Surrey – Ages 4-19
Are you a patient, compassionate and enthusiastic SEND Teaching Assistant looking for a rewarding opportunity in Leatherhead, Surrey?
SENDhelp is recruiting a dedicated SEND Teaching Assistant to join an all-through specialist school in Leatherhead, Surrey, supporting children and young people aged 4-19 with autism and Complex Social and Communication Needs (CSCN).
Pupils have significant barriers to learning and may also have learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs or medical needs. Classes are typically small, allowing staff to provide highly individualised support tailored to each young person’s needs.
This is an excellent opportunity for a SEND Teaching Assistant in Leatherhead, Surrey who wants to help autistic children and young people develop their communication, confidence, self-regulation and independence.
Your Role as a SEND Teaching Assistant in Leatherhead, Surrey
As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you’ll work alongside specialist teachers and other professionals to help children and young people aged 4-19 feel safe, understood and ready to learn.
Your responsibilities will include:
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Providing individual, small-group and classroom support within small specialist classes.
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Supporting pupils aged 4-19 with autism and Complex Social and Communication Needs.
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Helping pupils develop communication and shared attention skills.
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Supporting engaging, appropriately scaffolded and personalised learning activities.
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Using predictable routines and consistent approaches to help pupils feel secure and ready to learn.
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Supporting emotional regulation and helping pupils develop strategies for managing their emotions.
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Building positive, consistent and trusting relationships with pupils.
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Encouraging independence, confidence and positive risk-taking in learning.
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Using visual and communication strategies appropriate to individual pupils.
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Supporting younger pupils with communication, play, interaction and foundational learning.
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Helping older students develop life skills, independence and prepare for adulthood.
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Working closely with teachers, therapists, families and other professionals.
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Helping create a safe, structured and nurturing learning environment.
What We’re Looking For
For this SEND Teaching Assistant role in Leatherhead, Surrey, we’re looking for someone who understands that every autistic pupil communicates, learns and experiences the world differently.
Ideally, you will:
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Have experience supporting children, young people or adults with SEND.
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Have experience with autism, communication needs or learning difficulties.
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Be comfortable supporting pupils across a 4-19 age range.
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Be patient, calm and consistent in your approach.
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Understand that behaviour can be a form of communication.
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Be confident supporting pupils with emotional regulation.
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Have strong communication and teamwork skills.
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Be adaptable, proactive and reliable.
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Be passionate about helping pupils develop greater independence.
Previous school experience is desirable but not essential. We also welcome candidates across Leatherhead, Surrey with transferable experience from care, healthcare, support work, youth work, autism services or other roles supporting people with additional needs.
Supporting Autistic Pupils Aged 4-19
This specialist Leatherhead, Surrey setting supports children and young people across a broad 4-19 age range, meaning your approach will always be shaped around the individual pupil.
With younger children, support may focus on developing communication, shared attention, play, engagement and readiness to learn. Approaches within the setting include structured and autism-informed strategies designed to help pupils develop these foundational skills.
As pupils progress through the school, learning increasingly develops independence, confidence and practical skills.
For post-16 students, there is a strong emphasis on Preparing for Adulthood, including independent living, good health, community inclusion and employment.
As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you’ll help pupils develop skills that are meaningful both inside and outside the classroom.
A Specialist Environment Built Around the Individual
This specialist school in Leatherhead, Surrey believes pupils learn best when they feel safe, understood and supported.
The curriculum is broad, balanced and creative, with learning appropriately scaffolded around individual needs. Communication and self-regulation are particularly important, helping pupils develop the foundations they need to access learning and become increasingly independent.
For some pupils, progress might mean developing shared attention or communicating a choice. For others, it could mean accessing a qualification, completing an independent living task, participating within the community or preparing for employment.
As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you’ll be there to recognise and support those achievements.
What SENDhelp Offers You
When you join SENDhelp as a SEND Teaching Assistant in Leatherhead, Surrey, you’ll receive:
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Competitive PAYE rates.
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A dedicated SEND recruitment consultant throughout your placement.
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Access to hundreds of free online training courses.
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Opportunities to develop specialist autism and SEND experience.
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Ongoing support throughout the recruitment and placement process.
Apply Today – SEND Teaching Assistant, Leatherhead, Surrey
If you’re a compassionate and committed SEND Teaching Assistant looking for an opportunity in Leatherhead, Surrey to make a meaningful difference to children and young people aged 4-19, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply today for this SEND Teaching Assistant opportunity in Leatherhead, Surrey and help autistic children and young people develop the communication, confidence and independence they need for their future.
As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct.
All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy.
SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.
