SEND Sitting Specialist – Flexible 1:1 Family Support

Are you someone who understands children with additional needs? Do you know how to turn a hard day into a good one with the right activity, the right tone and a lot of patience? We'd love to meet you.

About us

Little Village Co is a new childcare agency launching across London, Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. We connect families with experienced, carefully checked childcare professionals. Our SEND sitting and holiday support is for families who need someone with real experience of additional needs, so parents can step away knowing their child is in safe, confident hands.

The role in a nutshell

You'll provide 1:1 SEND sitting and holiday support in families' homes across London, for children and young people aged 0 to 16 with additional needs. Bookings are mostly evenings, weekends and school holidays, with a 3-hour minimum. You choose which bookings you accept.

What you'll actually be doing

• Before a booking
  • We'll contact you to check your availability and share the details.
  • You'll read the child's profile: their needs, routines, communication style, sensory preferences, likes and dislikes, and anything that helps them feel calm.
  • You'll note allergies, dietary needs and health information, and the family's written instructions.
  • You'll have a handover with the parents at the start of your first visit.
• During a booking
  • You'll give calm, consistent 1:1 support in the family's home, following their routines and strategies (for example visual timetables or the communication methods the child uses).
  • You'll plan and lead activities that suit the child, such as sensory play, crafts, games, music or outdoor time. Outings only happen when agreed with the family beforehand.
  • You'll support everyday routines such as meals, snacks, getting ready and bedtime, and personal care where the child needs it, always agreed with the family in advance.
  • You'll use positive, consistent approaches to behaviour that match the parents' own strategies.
  • You'll follow allergy, dietary and health information exactly as the family gives it.
• After a booking
  • You'll hand over to the parents on how it went, what went well, and any concerns.
  • You'll report any accident, incident or safeguarding concern to our Designated Safeguarding Lead straight away.
• Throughout
  • You'll follow our Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Health & Safety Policy on every booking.
  • You won't arrange work privately with families you meet through us.

Your hours and flexibility

You'll join as a Little Village Worker on a flexible, zero-hours basis, paid bi-weekly through PAYE. We're a new and growing agency, so hours are not guaranteed. Bookings will build as families join. There's no obligation to accept any booking, and you can take other work alongside this. We'll match you to families, so you won't need to chase work.

What you'll get

• £20 per hour.
• A workplace pension where you're eligible.
• Bookings that fit around your life.
• A proper briefing on each family before you start.
• Welfare check-ins, so you're never left on your own with a worry.
• A warm, growing community, and a thank-you from us after your first 10 bookings.

About you

• 6+ years' experience working with children, including significant hands-on experience of children with additional needs.
• A Level 3+ childcare or education qualification, or QTS/EYTS, or a relevant degree.
• A recognised specialism, such as SEN, speech and language, or behaviour management.
• A current paediatric first aid certificate.
• An enhanced DBS check, or willingness to complete one through us.
• The right to work in the UK, and two satisfactory references.
• Able to travel across London for evening, weekend and holiday bookings.

Nice to have (only if you genuinely hold them): Makaton, Team Teach, PECS, autism-specific training.

Who thrives in this role

• You're warm but keep clear professional boundaries. That includes not sharing personal numbers or social media with families, and not arranging work privately.
• You speak up straight away if something worries you, and you report concerns without waiting.
• You follow each child's care plan and the parents' routines, instead of doing things your own way.
• You stay calm and patient when things get tough, and you're respectful and non-judgemental with families.
• You're reliable: you turn up, you're on time, and you communicate clearly.

This role may not be for you if...

• You want fixed hours or a full-time salaried job. This is flexible, zero-hours work.
• You're looking for a clinical, therapy or nursing role. This is a childcare role, and we don't expect therapy or medical procedures.
• You prefer school or nursery-based work, although we have other roles coming up for this. Please enquire. This role is 1:1 in family homes.
• You don't yet have 6+ years' experience, Level 3+ (or equivalent) or a current paediatric first aid certificate. Keep an eye out for our other roles.
• You can't travel across London for evening, weekend or holiday bookings.
• You'd want to arrange work privately with families we introduce you to.

Safeguarding and how we recruit

Little Village Co is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect everyone who works with us to share that commitment. This role involves working 1:1 with children, often without another adult present, so our recruitment process is thorough and every check is completed before anyone is offered a booking.

Before you apply, please know that we will:

• hold a video interview that includes safeguarding questions, and ask you to explain any gaps in your work history.
• ask shortlisted candidates to complete a self-disclosure form about any convictions, cautions or concerns.
• take up two references, and check your ID, right to work, qualifications and first aid certificate.
• complete an enhanced DBS check.
• carry out an online search on shortlisted candidates.
• share our Safeguarding Policy with shortlisted candidates.

We will never share a family's details or offer bookings until every check has been completed.