SEND Teaching Assistant

SEND Teaching Assistant (Autism and Complex Needs) - Bury

Hours: Full Time, Monday to Friday, Term Time Only
Pay: Up to £120 per day (dependent on experience)

Aspire People is recruiting for a specialist SEN school in Bury seeking an experienced and dedicated SEN Teaching Assistant to support pupils with autism and associated complex needs.

The school caters for children and young people with a wide range of needs, including severe autism, social communication difficulties, sensory processing needs and behaviours that may challenge. Some pupils are non-verbal or have limited verbal communication and require highly personalised support throughout the school day.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a strong understanding of autism who is looking to work within a specialist setting where they can make a genuine difference to pupils' educational and personal development.

You will work closely with teaching staff, therapists and other support professionals to help pupils access learning and achieve individual EHCP outcomes. The successful candidate will provide structured support both in the classroom and during less formal parts of the school day, helping pupils develop communication, independence and emotional regulation skills.

The role will require patience, resilience and the ability to adapt your approach to meet the needs of individual pupils. Some children may require support managing sensory differences, anxieties around change, or periods of dysregulation.

Key Responsibilities

- Support pupils with autism and complex additional needs throughout the school day
- Implement individual learning programmes and behaviour support plans
- Use visual timetables, communication aids and autism-friendly approaches
- Support pupils who are non-verbal or use alternative methods of communication
- Assist with emotional regulation and sensory needs
- Promote positive behaviour and engagement with learning
- Build strong, trusting relationships with pupils
- Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and wider support staff
- Maintain a safe, structured and nurturing learning environment

The ideal candidate will have:

- Experience supporting autistic children or young people
- A strong understanding of autism and associated communication needs
- Experience working with pupils who may display behaviours that challenge
- The ability to remain calm and consistent in demanding situations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- A genuine passion for supporting pupils with SEND

Essential Requirements

- Previous experience supporting pupils with autism
- Team Teach qualification or similar de-escalation and positive handling training
- Full-time availability, Monday to Friday
- Fluent spoken and written English
- Eligibility to work in the UK
- Willingness to complete safeguarding and pre-employment checks

Desirable Experience

- Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with backgrounds in:
- Specialist SEN education
- Autism provisions
- Residential care
- Support work
- Child and adolescent services
- Complex needs settings

What Aspire People Offers

- Competitive rates of pay up to £120 per day
- A full-time opportunity within a specialist SEN school
- Ongoing support from a dedicated education consultant
- The chance to further develop expertise in autism and SEND
- Access to long-term and permanent opportunities

If you have experience supporting pupils with autism and are looking for a rewarding role within a specialist SEN school in Bury, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and a member of the Aspire People team will be in touch to discuss the opportunity further.

Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks