Aspiring Autism Specialist / Mental Health & SEN Support - Learning Support Assistant Haringey
Pay: £108 per day
Location: Haringey
Start Date: 7th September 2026
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 3:45pm, term time only
Training: Full education, training, and CPD provided
Are you a psychology, education, health and social care, speech and language, or child development graduate looking to build a rewarding career supporting children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), SEN, and mental health needs?
This Learning Support Assistant position offers an excellent opportunity to gain valuable hands on experience working with autistic and non verbal children, as well as those with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, in a specialist educational setting in Maidenhead.
You will support pupils with a range of additional needs, including autism, communication difficulties, sensory processing needs, complex learning differences, anxiety, trauma, and emotional dysregulation. Working alongside experienced teachers, therapists, and specialist support staff, you will help create a nurturing environment where every child can develop confidence, independence, and essential life skills.
The school provides a highly structured and supportive environment designed to meet the unique needs of autistic learners and those with mental health challenges. Through individualised learning plans, communication focused strategies, sensory informed approaches, and trauma informed practice, pupils are empowered to achieve positive outcomes both academically and socially.
This role is ideal for graduates and aspiring professionals considering careers in educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, SEN teaching, behaviour support, child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), or clinical psychology.
The Role - A Stepping Stone into Autism, SEN, and Mental Health Support
This Learning Support Assistant role offers the opportunity to:
- Gain Specialist Autism & SEN Experience: Support autistic, non verbal, and SEMH pupils on a one to one and small group basis, developing a deep understanding of communication differences, sensory needs, and individual learning profiles.
- Support Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing: Help pupils manage anxiety, low mood, emotional dysregulation, and trauma related behaviours, using calm, consistent, and trauma informed approaches.
- Develop Communication Strategies: Learn and implement a range of communication methods, including visual supports, PECS, Makaton, AAC devices, and other alternative communication systems.
- Support Emotional Regulation: Help pupils develop emotional awareness and self regulation skills through consistent routines, positive reinforcement, sensory informed interventions, and therapeutic approaches.
- Work Within a Multi Disciplinary Team: Collaborate closely with teachers, SENCOs, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, mental health practitioners, and families to provide holistic support.
- Build Essential Professional Skills: Develop skills in behaviour support, communication facilitation, safeguarding, observation, record keeping, person centred planning, and mental health first aid.
- Advocate for Inclusion: Make a genuine difference by supporting autistic, SEN, and mentally vulnerable children to access learning, build independence, and achieve their individual goals.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- A strong interest in Autism, Special Educational Needs (SEN), mental health, communication support, or child development.
- A degree in psychology, education, health and social care, speech and language studies, sociology, or a related field is desirable but not essential.
- Previous experience working with children, young people, or individuals with additional needs or mental health challenges is advantageous but not required.
- Patience, resilience, empathy, and a calm approach when supporting children with varying communication styles, sensory needs, and emotional challenges.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a genuine passion for helping children reach their full potential.
- A proactive attitude and willingness to learn within a specialist educational environment.
Benefits to YOU
- Excellent rates of pay - £108 per day.
- Speedy registration process with fast track compliance.
- Flexible working opportunities during term time.
- 5 star rated agency with over 3,000 reviews across Google and Facebook.
- Exclusive partnerships with schools and trusts across Maidenhead and Berkshire.
- FREE access to our Perks Portal, offering discounts similar to the Blue Light Card.
- Access to 1,000+ accredited and discounted CPD courses through Milk Academy.
- FREE PSHE lesson plans and classroom resources, created by qualified teachers.
- FREE Educator Wellbeing eBook and access to our wellbeing hub, including CPD and fitness modules.
- School Preparation Pack to support you ahead of your placements.
- 24/7 support from your dedicated personal consultant.
- Access to our Unbottled programme, bringing lived experience speakers into schools to cover topics such as mental health, discrimination, and exploitation.
- Join the UK's only eco friendly education supply agency.
Safeguarding
Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.