Aspiring Education Psychologist – Learning Support Assistant West Drayton in London

September 2026 Start

Pay: £115.90 per day

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm

Contract: Full-time, Term Time Only

Are you a Psychology graduate or an experienced Learning Support Assistant looking to build a career in speech and language therapy, educational psychology, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)? Are you passionate about supporting non-verbal and minimally verbal children, helping them find their voice and access education in a way that works for them?

We are recruiting Learning Support Assistants for a specialist provision in West Drayton, supporting students aged 3 to 16 with complex communication needs, autism, and language disorders, many of whom are non-verbal or use alternative communication methods. Depending on your strengths and preferences, you will be placed in either the Early Years/Primary setting (ages 3–11) or the Secondary setting (ages 11–16), ensuring you work where you will have the greatest impact and where your skills shine.

About the Role

This setting supports children and young people who face significant barriers to communication, including:

• Non-verbal or minimally verbal communication profiles
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) with associated communication challenges
• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
• Selective mutism and anxiety-related communication reluctance
• Complex needs requiring AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Your role will focus on understanding how these children communicate, building trust through non-verbal means, and supporting their emotional and educational development in a patient, tailored way. You’ll work in a small, nurturing setting with a strong focus on:

• Alternative communication methods (PECS, Makaton, communication boards, eye-gaze technology)
• Emotional regulation through sensory and relational approaches
• Building rapport without relying on spoken language
• Personalised learning that meets each child where they are
• Age-appropriate approaches – play-based for younger children, functional life skills and vocational pathways for older students

Start Date: September 2026. Early application is recommended to secure interviews and trial days ahead of the new academic year.

Why This Role is Ideal

This position is perfect for aspiring:

• Educational or Clinical Psychologists specialising in autism and communication
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Mental Health Practitioners
• SEND specialists and SENCOs

You will gain hands-on experience in:

• Supporting non-verbal children and young people and understanding their unique communication styles
• Using AAC devices, PECS, Makaton, and visual supports
• Observing and interpreting behaviour as communication
• Working with students who experience frustration, sensory overload, and social isolation
• Building trust and safety with children who cannot easily express their needs verbally
• Understanding the link between communication difficulties and emotional wellbeing
• Adapting your approach across different developmental stages, from early years to adolescence

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting pupils 1:1 and in small groups, using visual aids and alternative communication tools
• Helping students express their needs, feelings, and wants through non-verbal means
• Modelling and reinforcing the use of PECS, Makaton, or AAC devices
• Building consistent, patient, and positive relationships with children who may feel unheard
• Supporting emotional regulation when students become frustrated by communication barriers
• Encouraging engagement in learning through sensory and visually-based activities
• Working closely with Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and educational psychologists
• Promoting independence and self-advocacy through communication

For younger children (3–11): Supporting play-based learning, early communication, and sensory integration.

For older students (11–16): Supporting functional skills, life skills, vocational pathways, and transition planning.

Where Will You Be Placed?

You will be placed in the age group where you are most suited, based on:

• Your experience and qualifications
• Your personal strengths and preferences
• The needs of the setting at the time of your start

This could mean working with early years children taking their first steps in communication, or with young people approaching adulthood, supporting them towards independence and meaningful futures. Both pathways offer invaluable experience for aspiring psychologists and therapists.

What We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from you if you:

• Are a Psychology, Speech and Language, or related graduate, or have relevant experience in care, youth work, or support roles
• Have a genuine interest in non-verbal communication, autism, or language development
• Are patient, observant, and emotionally intelligent – able to read subtle cues
• Are creative in finding ways to connect with children who don’t use spoken language
• Have strong active listening skills – listening with your eyes as much as your ears
• Understand that all behaviour is communication and are curious about what lies beneath
• Are adaptable and comfortable working with a wide age range

No school-based experience is required — your empathy, curiosity, and willingness to learn are what matter most. Full training in AAC, PECS, Makaton, and trauma-informed practice will be provided.

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are APSCo Compliance+ accredited, meeting the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education and APSCo guidelines.

Milk Education is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy, available on our website. Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.