Learning Support Assistant – Specialist SEND School Swiss Cottage, North London | £105 per day | Ful

Are you a psychology or therapy graduate looking for the experience that sets your application apart? If you’re 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 to work within one of North London’s most established and highly regarded specialist SEND schools, based in Swiss Cottage. This is not a typical classroom assistant role. You will be joining a dedicated, experienced team supporting children and young people whose needs cannot be met within a mainstream setting.

About the setting

This is a well‑respected specialist SEND setting situated in Swiss Cottage — an incredibly well‑connected part of Camden, sitting at the heart of one of London’s most culturally rich and progressive boroughs. The provision caters for pupils with a broad range of needs including autism, speech, language and communication difficulties, and moderate to severe learning difficulties alongside associated complex needs. It has a strong reputation across North London for its inclusive ethos, highly skilled staff and the genuine, meaningful progress pupils make — academically, socially and emotionally. Staff are well‑supported, well‑led and clearly valued.

What you will be doing

• Providing 1:1 and small group support to pupils with autism, SLCN, MLD and complex additional needs
• Building consistent, trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe and ready to learn
• Supporting communication, independence and emotional regulation across the school day
• Working closely with class teachers, therapists and the wider MDT to implement individual education and support plans
• Adapting your approach to meet each pupil’s needs — whether through Makaton, PECS, sensory strategies or structured routines
• Contributing to a calm, positive and highly supportive learning environment

Why this role is ideal for your career

Few settings offer the breadth of experience this provision does. You will work across a wide range of needs and age groups, gaining practical exposure to AAC, specialist communication approaches, multi‑agency collaboration and evidence‑based SEND practice — all within a setting that genuinely invests in its staff. Many graduates use this kind of role to strengthen postgraduate applications, build a reflective practice portfolio, and confirm whether educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy or specialist SEND teaching is the right direction for them.

The Swiss Cottage location also makes this an easy commute from across North and Central London — well served by the Jubilee line and multiple bus routes, making it genuinely accessible from Camden, Islington, Brent, Barnet and beyond.

Start dates — flexible to suit you

Immediate start. 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 September start.

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 children and young people with complex needs. 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 autism, SEND, child development or therapeutic education is essential, as is a calm, patient and consistent approach and the ability to build trust with pupils who may find new relationships challenging. Full training and onboarding support are provided from day one.

What Milk Education offers

• £105 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

To apply, send your CV to the Milk Education SEN team or apply via this listing. Our consultant is reviewing applications now — don’t wait. 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.