Merton
South West London
£90 - £110
1:1 Teaching Assistant – SEND School (Autism & Behaviour Support)
Location: Merton
Pay: £90 – £110 per day (Depending on experience) – PAYE, no hidden deductions
Working Pattern: Full-time, Long-term (Temp-to-Perm Opportunity)
Recruitment Partner: Parker Smith Inclusion
Are you someone who genuinely wants to make a difference every single day?
Are you calm, compassionate and ready to support a young person who needs patience, understanding and consistency?
Parker Smith Inclusion is partnered with a warm, dedicated SEND school in Merton, and we are looking for a caring, passionate and resilient Teaching Assistant to work 1:1 with a pupil with ASC and significant behavioural needs linked to trauma.
If you believe in the power of relationships, small steps forward and celebrating every achievement, this could be the perfect role for you.
About the School:
This specialist SEND school is known for its nurturing ethos and commitment to every child’s unique journey. Staff work with empathy, patience and genuine care, placing trauma-informed practice at the centre of everything they do.
The school prides itself on:
A truly child-centred approach, always guided by what each pupil needs to feel safe, settled and ready to learn
Ensuring every young person is understood and supported, both emotionally and academically
A team culture where staff look out for one another, celebrate successes and support each other during challenges
Offering pupils a peaceful, structured environment where they can grow at their own pace
Students also benefit from a wide range of therapies based on their EHCPs, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, art therapy, CAMHS support, music therapy, Lego therapy, ELSA and various targeted interventions.
The school uses an adapted version of the Zones of Regulation, created in collaboration with therapy teams, and a whole-school sensory routine carried out every day. This starts right from breakfast club, helping students meet their oral, proprioceptive, tactile, visual, vestibular and auditory needs with carefully selected activities and food options.
In the classroom, students are supported with:
Fine-motor activity boxes
Calming music
Clear transition routines
Mid-lesson movement breaks
Personalised visual timetables
Timers to help with emotional regulation and structure
If a student becomes dysregulated and requires additional support, the school provides thoughtful, structured interventions both in and out of the classroom. This may include sensory circuits, movement breaks or time with a TA/HLTA—always planned, supervised and agreed between staff and pupil.
It’s a setting where children are cared for deeply—and where passionate educators feel valued, supported and part of something meaningful.
About the Role:
Provide 1:1 support to a secondary aged pupil with autism, helping them regulate behaviour, manage emotions and re-engage with learning
Build a trusting, stable relationship that helps the pupil feel secure
Offer calm, consistent reassurance during difficult moments
Support learning both inside the classroom and through structured sensory/therapeutic activities
Work closely with teachers, pastoral staff and therapists using personalised strategies
Celebrate progress, no matter how small and help the pupil experience success
This role is ideal for someone who truly cares about giving young people the stability and encouragement they deserve.
What We’re Looking For:
We’re looking for a genuinely passionate educator, someone who:
Is confident, patient and nurturing
Understands behaviour through a trauma-informed lens
Has experience supporting pupils with challenging behaviour
Can stay positive even on tough days
Communicates clearly and works well as part of a supportive team
Believes every child is capable of progress with the right support
Why Join Through Parker Smith Inclusion?
Long-term role with real potential to become permanent
Support from specialist SEND consultants who truly understand your role
Access to meaningful CPD in SEND, SEMH and behaviour support
A chance to join a school where your kindness, passion and resilience will make a lasting impact
If you’re the type of person who shows up with empathy, patience and a willingness to believe in every child, even on their hardest days, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now through Parker Smith Inclusion and help change a young person’s life for the better.
For more information, contact Jamie Martinez, SEND Consultant.