Sen learning support assistant jobs

At Ambitious about Autism, we are looking for a Programme Director – Service Development to join our team. You'll develop Ambitious about Autism's and the Trust's education and care services for autistic children and young people.

You'll lead on key strategic projects to extend existing or develop new education and care services for autistic children and young people, providing strong project leadership, strategic integration and managing project-related governance. You'll identify and pursue new business opportunities to drive growth and expansion of our educational settings, including school bids.

You'll be involved in new service development, conducting thorough assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for new provisions or products, whilst developing innovative concepts for new services and seeking approval through business cases. You'll also provide leadership to the Service Development team, with line management of 3 direct reports, whilst upholding Ambitious about Autism's core values.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Extensive business development and project planning knowledge
• Working knowledge of the education, health or social care of children/young people with SEND
• Working knowledge of: The social, policy, regulatory issues affecting children and young people with special educational needs or Commissioning and service delivery for children, young people and their families
• Proven experience of leading the development and delivery of new services for children, young people and/or adults with special educational needs or disabilities either from a third sector, educational, health or local authority background
• Experience of developing strategic and business plans

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

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 maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment 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.

Join Our Team: Make a Difference in Education!

Are you passionate about transforming the lives of vulnerable young people? We're an innovative education charity and creative school dedicated to supporting London’s most at-risk young people. Through our holistic approach, we empower students to thrive academically, socially, physically, and emotionally in a nurturing community.

At TCW, we pride ourselves on being a sector-leading alternative school, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in every category: Quality of Education, Leadership and Management, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development and Sixth Form. Since 1999, we’ve been refining a unique, creative approach to education that celebrates individuality and helps every student thrive. As Ofsted (2025) wrote:

“The Complete Works transforms pupils’ lives for the better.”

Our Approach: We offer a unique blend of personalised group and one-to-one lessons, combined with creative projects and comprehensive wellbeing support. Over the past 25 years, our team has helped thousands of young people regain their confidence, earn valuable qualifications, and grow into successful, happy adults.

The Role: We are seeking passionate and creative people to teach one-to-one lessons with young people across London, working both in students’ homes and other public spaces. You do not need to be a qualified teacher, we will provide your training. Our students have high needs including SEN, medical needs, and SEMH, making mainstream school unsuitable. The work is varied, challenging, and immensely rewarding. You’ll be backed by a dedicated office education team, including a QTS teacher who will mentor you, as well as specialists in safeguarding, wellbeing, and interventions. Your mission: to inspire your students to learn creatively, grow in confidence, and achieve academically.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay rates with regular progression
• A culture of promotion from within (our senior leadership team all started in entry level positions)
• Ongoing professional development, tailored to your ambitions and interests
• Regular socials and staff clubs, a supportive and friendly culture
• Competitive Pension scheme
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Facilities and Support from our in house Wellbeing Team
• Access to hundreds of company discounts, including gym membership, cinema tickets and fashion.
• Excellent work life balance - school holidays.
• The chance to positively influence the lives of vulnerable children
• Flexibility to develop your role based on your strengths and interests.

Requirements:

• Legal right to work in the UK.
• Enhanced DBS Certificate and Overseas Police Clearances (if applicable).
• Two professional reference checks.
• Experience working with young people, ideally with SEN or SEMH.
• Willingness to teach English, Maths and Science up to KS3 or KS4 level, with support.
• GCSE in Maths/English/Science at C or above.

Pay:

• From £28,361.02

Training:

• Induction Day: One full day (9:00 am – 3:45 pm).
• Induction Training Sessions: Five Tuesday afternoons (4:30 – 6:00 pm).
• Ongoing Professional Development: Weekly sessions on Thursday afternoons (4:30 – 6:00 pm).

Ready to make a real impact? Apply now and be part of a team that's changing lives through education!

TCW Values:

We believe our students deserve a broad range of role models, reflecting the diversity of our society. Therefore we welcome applications from those of all backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions.

The Complete Works school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 2020. Any job offer will be conditional on the satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and barred list check.

Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Part time Teaching Assistant (TA) – Autism / SEND

Ambitious About Autism is recruiting for a Part Time Teaching Assistant (TA) to support autistic children and young people aged 4–19 at TreeHouse School (Ofsted Outstanding) specialist school in Muswell Hill.

• Part time, permanent (term time only)
• Days: We are open to speaking to those who can work from minimum 2 to 4 days per week (please ensure you disclose on your application how many days you can commit to)
• Working Hours: 8.45am – 4.35pm
• Salary: £27,770 to £28,005 per annum (pro rata)
• Location: Muswell Hill, North London (N10 3JA)
• Start date: After Easter half term 2025 (can be flexible depending on notice periods)

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

You will work 1:1 with autistic pupils, supporting them to access the curriculum while building independence, confidence, and self-esteem through classroom learning and community based activities. This role includes personal care.

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

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

What we offer:

• Term time only working (pro rata salary paid across 52 weeks)
• Autism specific training and ongoing CPD
• Supportive leadership and a strong wellbeing culture
• Varied, meaningful work with real impact
• Full benefits package: on our website

The official internal title for this role is Specialist Teaching Assistant, but it is advertised externally as a Part Time Teaching 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.

The Difference is seeking a Head of the Inclusive Leadership Course to lead our year-long programme for senior school leaders, training 200+ headteachers, deputies and assistant heads annually to reduce lost learning and transform inclusion practice across England's schools.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for designing and delivering a sector-leading professional development programme, building strong relationships with school leaders and strategic partners, and capturing evidence of impact. The role will lead facilitation of regional cohorts, oversee quality assurance across all programme delivery, and work closely with MAT and LA leaders to scale understanding and reach.

The role requires regular national travel for programme delivery, regular office attendance and representing The Difference at conferences and sector events. You will work directly with the Deputy CEO to develop course content, identify opportunities for programme expansion, and ensure the course remains at the forefront of inclusion leadership practice.

We are looking for a confident leader with a strong track record in senior school leadership, programme design and delivery, and stakeholder management, alongside the ability to translate inclusion strategy into measurable outcomes for young people.

About The Difference

Every day, the equivalent of 5,500 children are suspended from England's schools, doubling their likelihood of being NEET by 24. The Difference is a young education charity founded to change this story through whole school inclusion. Since 2019, over 1,000 school leaders have completed the Inclusive Leadership Course. 94% report shifted knowledge of inclusion, and 64% of schools subsequently saw suspensions data buck national trends. The course has been the test bed for our Whole-School Approach to Inclusion, with principles now evident in the Schools White Paper.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead design of the Inclusive Leadership Course to ensure full engagement across the year and measurable improvement in Whole School Inclusion practice
• Lead facilitation on regional cohorts, building cohort buy-in and belonging while maintaining high engagement and satisfaction
• Design and execute evidence capture to provide timely, valuable data for The Difference Impact Strategy
• Stay informed of promising practice to ensure the course remains sector-leading, piloting new content before wider roll-out
• Represent The Difference through speaking engagements and writing

About You

Essential:

• Senior leadership experience in schools with a track record of leading inclusive work that gives credibility to stakeholder relationships
• Experience designing and delivering professional development that has led to improved student outcomes
• Proven ability to build teams with strong identities to deliver against ambitious targets
• Experience quality assuring autonomous staff in ways that empower while delivering consistent outcomes
• Strategic ability to juggle competing priorities, spot and mitigate risks, and identify opportunities
• Credibility to hold significant relationships with MAT CEOs, Directors of Children's Services and DfE
• Commitment to personal growth, including diagnosing your own development areas and using others' expertise
• Shared values with The Difference and personal commitment to improving life outcomes for young people

Desired:

• Insight through life or work into school experiences of over-excluded young people
• Product design experience building business cases for new services in the school sector
• Early-stage social enterprise or charity experience

Please see the attached Job Description for full role details and person specification.

We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups in the charity sector. As part of our commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed with names and protected characteristics redacted where possible.