Teaching Assistant

All applicants must complete a full TES profile and application form. CVs will not be accepted under any circumstances. Incomplete applications will not be shortlisted. You must provide a continuous employment history from leaving school to the present, with clear explanations for all gaps.

Salary: FTE £32,442 - £33,384 (Actual salary approx £26,024 - £27,765 pro rata)

Working pattern: Term time only plus 5 INSET days (39 Weeks)

Hours: 32.5 hours per week for 39 weeks per year

DBS check: Enhanced DBS

Location: Lewisham

About Drumbeat School

Drumbeat School is a sector leading specialist provision for children and young people aged 4–19 diagnosed with Autism. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every pupil can thrive.

About the role

As part of a class-based team you will need to be energetic, enthusiastic and creative as well as resilient with a significant sense of fun. You will work within a class team collaborating with teachers, therapists and other Autism specialists to create an engaging, inclusive learning environment where every student can succeed. This is a challenging role, but incredibly rewarding as part of a team which works together to make a real difference to the lives of our children with Autism.

Key Responsibilities

• Use specialist skills and experience to support pupils with Autism
• Build strong relationships with pupils, parents and carers to enable them to thrive
• Provide visual support, structured activities, and clear routines
• Assist with the implementation of Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs)
• Encourage independence and reward achievement of self-reliance
• Monitor pupil progress, achievement, and development
• Support teachers with lesson planning, evaluation, and record-keeping
• Liaise with parents/carers and other professionals as required
• Support the use of ICT and practical resources in learning activities
• Support pupils during out-of-school activities, visits, and trips

Why join Drumbeat School?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including but not limited to:

• £110 towards new glasses, annually
• £110 towards routine dental treatment, annually
• £200 towards complementary therapies such as physiotherapy, osteopathy and chiropractic adjustments, annually
• £100 towards alternative therapies such as reflexology, homeopathy and Indian head massage, annually
• Up to 8 face to face counselling sessions, annually
• 24/7 Employee Support Service
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to virtual GP
• And many other benefits, including benefits for up to four dependent children.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Drumbeat is an equal opportunities employer. If you have lived or worked abroad for more than three months since you were 18 you will need to apply to the country where you lived for a police check. We will help you do this but you will need to pay any costs.

To view the job description, person specification and to apply for this position, please see below. When completing the personal statement in the application please show how you match the requirements in the person specification and give examples from your past work history. Applicants who do not do this will not be shortlisted.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 11 February at 12pm. Interviews will be held on Wednesday 25 February 2026.