Teaching and Learning Assistant

Full Time | Permanent | Term Time Only

Working Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm

Salary: TLA Point 8 | £25,258 actual salary, term time only

Make a real difference every day. Are you passionate about supporting autistic young people to thrive? Are you patient, compassionate and adaptable, with a genuine commitment to helping every learner reach their potential? The Rise School is looking for enthusiastic and dedicated Teaching and Learning Assistants to join our team and play a key role in supporting our pupils to learn, develop and achieve. The Rise School is an Ofsted-rated Good specialist school for autistic pupils aged 4–18. At full capacity, we support up to 130 pupils across primary and secondary education. We believe every learner is unique, and our approach is built around understanding and celebrating individual strengths, needs and aspirations.

As a Teaching and Learning Assistant, you will work alongside teachers and colleagues to provide personalised support that enables our pupils to develop academically, socially and emotionally.

About the role

• Provide high-quality, individualised support to autistic pupils in the classroom and across the school.
• Support learners to develop their communication, independence, social and learning skills.
• Work collaboratively with teachers and other professionals to deliver personalised learning.
• Use positive and proactive approaches to support behaviour and engagement.
• Build trusting, respectful relationships with pupils and understand their individual needs.
• Contribute to a safe, inclusive and nurturing learning environment.
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times.

About you

• Empathetic and patient, with a genuine desire to make a positive difference.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to respond positively to different needs and situations.
• Positive and solution-focused, with the ability to think creatively when challenges arise.
• Comfortable working as part of a team and able to build strong relationships with pupils, families and colleagues.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
• Keen to learn about autism and develop their knowledge and practice.

You do not need to have worked in a specialist setting before. What matters most is your attitude, values, willingness to learn and commitment to supporting autistic young people. This role can be both rewarding and challenging. You will need the physical and emotional resilience to support young people with autism, some of whom may have additional or complex needs. In return, you will receive support, development opportunities and the chance to build a rewarding career in specialist education.

Why join The Rise School?

You will become part of a dedicated team that is committed to creating an environment where every pupil can feel valued, supported and successful. Whether you are starting your career in education or looking to develop your experience in specialist education, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

Closing Date: Friday 19 November

Interview Dates: Ongoing interviews on Wednesday and Friday mornings throughout November

Start Date: December 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations.

We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.