Learning Support Assistant – Specialist Alternative Provision Newham in London

Are you a psychology or therapy graduate looking for the experience that sets your application apart? If you are working towards a career in educational psychology, forensic psychology or occupational therapy – or simply want to confirm that working with children and young people is the right path for you – this role offers exactly the kind of hands‑on, meaningful experience that postgraduate programmes and employers are looking for.

Milk Education is recruiting Learning Support Assistants on behalf of a specialist alternative provision in Newham. This is not a typical classroom assistant role. You will be working in a small, nurturing setting specifically designed for children and young people who have been unable to access mainstream education due to anxiety, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), autism, trauma, and complex emotional needs.

About the setting: The provision sits at the heart of one of London’s most diverse and forward‑thinking boroughs – and works with young people who have often had difficult or damaging experiences in traditional education. The focus is on rebuilding trust, emotional safety and a love of learning, using trauma‑informed, person‑centred approaches delivered by a skilled multidisciplinary team. Class sizes are small, support is personalised, and the progress pupils make is genuinely significant.

What you will be doing:

• Providing 1:1 and small group support to pupils with anxiety, EBSA, autism and additional learning needs
• Building therapeutic, trusting relationships with young people who may initially resist engagement with adults
• Supporting emotional regulation and helping pupils manage transitions, routines and social situations
• Implementing individual support plans in collaboration with teachers, therapists and external professionals
• Encouraging communication, independence and confidence through patience and consistency
• Using trauma‑informed and person‑centred strategies to help pupils gradually re‑engage with learning

Why this role is ideal for your career: Working in this setting gives you direct, documented experience across areas central to careers in psychology, therapy and SEND – including supporting children with EBSA and anxiety, understanding how trauma shapes behaviour and learning, applying person‑centred approaches in a real educational context, and contributing to multi‑agency working alongside teachers, therapists and clinical professionals. Many graduates use this role to strengthen their postgraduate applications, build a reflective practice portfolio, and confirm whether educational psychology, forensic psychology, occupational therapy, SEMH support or youth justice is the right direction for them.

Start dates – flexible to suit you: Trial period June and July 2026, with a confirmed September 2026 start. We welcome applications from candidates ready to begin now, and equally from those who want to secure the role ahead of a later start date.

Who we are looking for: You do not need prior school‑based experience. What matters is your empathy, your curiosity and your commitment to working with vulnerable young people. We would love to hear from you if you have a degree in psychology, education, sociology, criminology, occupational therapy or a related field (or are currently studying), along with experience in care, youth work, mentoring or volunteering with vulnerable individuals. A genuine interest in child development, mental health, SEN or therapeutic education is essential, as is a calm, reflective and patient approach and the ability to build trust with young people who may find relationships with adults difficult. Full training and onboarding support are provided from day one.

What Milk Education offers:

• £100-£110 per day
• A dedicated SEN consultant who will take the time to understand your career goals
• DBS fast‑track support
• Flexible start dates to suit your circumstances
• A genuine pathway to long‑term or permanent employment within the setting

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory professional references. Right to work in the UK is required. 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.