What skills and experience we're looking for
The Link School specialises in meeting the needs of 160 students from 4 - 19 with Speech, Language and Communication difficulties including autistic spectrum conditions and Pathological Demand Avoidance. In addition to the Primary and Secondary sites, it also has a satellite provision which provides a safe and nurturing environment for autistic young people who show demand avoidant profiles.
Situated in the London Borough of Sutton all three sites are easily accessible by public transport and well placed to draw upon a wide range of leisure, recreational and educational facilities having easy access to Surrey and London.
The school provides a warm, safe, friendly and nurturing environment, which helps pupils to learn, express their ideas, communicate, develop friendships and grow in confidence and self- esteem.
Staff provide pupils with an outstanding education based on strong practitioner research and the holistic curriculum offer that promotes strong personal and social education as well as cognitive development. It is a rewarding and inspirational place to work. To find out more about us visit
We are looking to recruit Special Support Assistants to join a newly formed class in our specialist flagship school-based satellite and outreach service for young people with ASD and Pathological Demand avoidance.
You will need a genuine belief in person centred learning with an ability to build strong relationships of trust with young people with high level anxieties as well as an ability to engage young people through their motivations and interests. It would be an advantage to have interests and skills that can be used in learner individual programmes, for example, sports, Information Technology and gaming or creative hobbies.
Do you feel you can
• build a rapport?
• recognise dysregulation and mindfully offer support?
• offer choices?
• wait for and encourage initiation?
• interpretate behaviours as a communication?
• provide guidance for interpreting the feelings and opinions of others?
• be creative and resourceful?
• negotiate and suggest?
• use indirect praise?
If so, then this might be the next exciting opportunity for you to explore and work with a team of like-minded colleagues who want to provide the best outcomes for our students.
Initial and on-going training to work as part of the team for these learners will be provided
What the school offers its staff
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.