Teaching Assistant Year 1 – 1:1 ASD Support

Desian Education are proud to be working in partnership with a welcoming single-form entry mainstream primary school who are looking to appoint a dedicated and nurturing Teaching Assistant to join their Year 1 team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Teaching Assistant who enjoys working with younger pupils and is passionate about supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within a mainstream classroom.

Your new role:

The successful Teaching Assistant will provide dedicated 1:1 support to a female Year 1 pupil with high-functioning ASD. She is an extremely bright, outgoing and sociable pupil who is able to access the curriculum alongside her peers. However, due to her individual needs, she can become easily distracted and dysregulated, which can impact her ability to remain focused and engaged with learning.

You will play an important role in helping her recognise and manage these moments, whilst encouraging her independence and ensuring she continues to thrive within the classroom.

Your responsibilities will include:

·       Providing dedicated 1:1 support within the Year 1 classroom.

·       Supporting the pupil to remain focused and engaged during lessons.

·       Recognising early signs of dysregulation and implementing appropriate strategies.

·       Helping the pupil develop positive self-regulation and emotional management skills.

·       Supporting transitions between lessons, activities and routines.

·       Encouraging independence rather than creating unnecessary reliance on 1:1 support.

·       Working alongside the class teacher to ensure the pupil can access the full curriculum.

·       Supporting positive social interaction with peers.

·       Using engaging and creative approaches to maintain attention and motivation.

·       Working collaboratively with the class teacher, SENCO and wider school team.

What you need to succeed:

·       Previous experience working with children with ASD within a school environment.

·       Experience working within EYFS or KS1.

·       A calm, patient and nurturing approach.

·       An understanding of sensory needs, emotional regulation and neurodiversity.

·       The ability to recognise when a pupil is becoming distracted or dysregulated and respond appropriately.

·       Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

·       A positive and enthusiastic personality.

·       The ability to encourage independence and celebrate pupil achievements.

·       A genuine passion for supporting children to reach their full potential.

What you’ll get in return:

·       Competitive rates of pay

·       A full-time, long-term contract

·       Full holiday entitlement

·       Company pension scheme

·       Free training and professional development

·       Dedicated support from an experienced Education consultant

·       Access to exclusive vacancies

·       Desian Education’s Refer a Friend scheme