Sen learning support assistant jobs

Learning Support Assistant (LSA) – Autism / SEND

Ambitious About Autism is recruiting for a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) to support autistic young people aged 16–25 at Ambitious College, our specialist further education college.

• Full time, permanent (term time only)
• Hours: 9am - 4.30pm
• Salary: £25,837 - £27,165 per annum
• Location: Tottenham, North London (N15 4FY)
• Start date: February 2026 (flexible depending on notice periods)

Please note, this role may not meet Skilled Worker visa sponsorship criteria

You will work 1:1 with autistic learners, supporting them to access learning, build independence, confidence, and life skills — both on campus and in the community. This role involves personal care.

This role is ideal for candidates with experience or interest in:

• SEN / SEND
• Autism
• Learning Support Assistant or Teaching Assistant roles
• Care, youth work, education, or psychology backgrounds

What we offer:

• Term time only working (paid across 52 weeks)
• Extensive autism specific training and CPD
• Support from leading autism specialists
• Free daily breakfast
• Employee benefits including EAP, cycle-to-work, and season ticket loans
• Full benefits package: please see our website

The official internal title for this role is Specialist Teaching Assistant, but it is advertised externally as Learning Support Assistant to reflect the nature of the role and maximise reach.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious About Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Assistant Benefits Advisor
Salary £24,000 FTE (rising to £27,000 per year FTE after 1 year and completion of training) 
17.5 - 21 hours per week, 6.6 weeks holiday   
Remote working with occasional travel for events and meetings in West Sussex

Are you passionate about working with SEND families? 
Do you have the transferable skills and qualities to train as a benefits advisor?

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join a rapidly growing caring charity with the benefits of flexible family friendly working (from home), generous holiday, pension scheme, travel expenses, laptop and phone provided.  

Reaching Families was established in 2008 to empower, inform and support parent-carers and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in West Sussex.  We achieve this through the delivery of our services providing information, training and peer support.

Our Benefits Advice Service provides support to parents of children and young people with SEND in West Sussex applying for Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independent Payments (PIP).  Offering 1-2-1 advice sessions on the above benefits, support with claim checking of draft applications, information resources on benefits and other sources of financial support, and training workshops on DLA, PIP and Universal Credit.

We are looking to recruit a skilled and motivated Assistant Benefits Advisor to join our team
The post holder will be responsible for supporting our Benefits Advisor with the delivery of information, advice and guidance on Carers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to parent-carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in West Sussex.  This is a training role with the view to promotion to Benefits Advisor following completion of training. 

Person Specification (essential):
• Understanding of challenges facing parents and carers of children with SEND 
• Passionate about improving the life chances of children with SEND and their parents/carers, and families
• A highly motivated self-starter with a flexible approach to working life 
• A creative and strategic thinker 
• Committed to professional and personal development and lifelong learning 
• Ability to work independently and manage a diverse and demanding workload 
• Comfortable working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Excellent writing and editing skills 
• Experience of using MS Office including SharePoint
• A good all-round education including GCSE’s (or equivalent) or NVQ level 2 

See attached job description for details and full criteria 

We welcome applications from all members of the community and value diversity in the organisation. Please contact us if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to the application or interview process due to any disability or health requirements. 

Closing date for applications is 12th January 2026

Interviews to be held in Littlehampton on 21st/22nd January 2026

To apply please complete the attached application form and share why you feel you fit the role and person specification (see attached documents)