PMLD Teaching Assistant – Specialist SEND School – Orpington
Location: Orpington, Type: Full-Time, Working Hours: 08:30 am – 16:00 pm, Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Are you a compassionate and dedicated Teaching Assistant with a passion for supporting children and young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD)?
We are recruiting for an exceptional PMLD Teaching Assistant to join a highly supportive and well-established specialist SEND school in Orpington. This is a rewarding opportunity to work within a nurturing, multidisciplinary environment where pupils with complex learning, physical, medical, and communication needs are supported to thrive both academically and personally.
The school caters for pupils aged 4–19 with severe, profound, and complex learning difficulties, including autism spectrum conditions, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and medical needs. The setting is recognised for its child‑centred ethos, specialist facilities, therapeutic provision, and commitment to helping every pupil develop independence, communication, and life skills through highly personalised learning experiences.
The School Offers:
- Purpose-built sensory and therapeutic learning environments
- Hydrotherapy and sensory integration facilities
- Specialist communication support including AAC
- A strong multidisciplinary team including therapists and healthcare professionals
- Small class sizes with high staff-to-pupil ratios
- A holistic curriculum tailored to individual EHCP outcomes
- A strong emphasis on emotional wellbeing, sensory regulation, and independence development
Key Responsibilities
Classroom and Learning Support
- Support the delivery of personalised, sensory-based learning activities
- Assist with implementing individual EHCP targets
- Encourage engagement through sensory storytelling, tactile activities, music, movement, and interactive learning
- Adapt support strategies to meet individual physical, sensory, and communication needs
Holistic Pupil Support
- Promote communication, independence, emotional regulation, and social interaction
- Support pupils with personal care, mobility, feeding, and physical needs where required
- Help create a calm, structured, and nurturing classroom environment
- Support pupils with medical and physical needs under guidance from trained staff
Communication and SEND Support Strategies
Use and support communication systems including:
- PECS
- Makaton
- AAC devices
- Intensive Interaction
- Visual timetables and sensory cues
- Support pupils’ expressive and receptive communication development through consistent use of these approaches
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Work closely with:
- Class teachers
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Medical staff
- SENCOs and pastoral teams
- Ensure consistency in support strategies across all areas of pupil development
Monitoring and Progress Support
- Observe, record, and report pupil progress and achievements
- Support evidence gathering for EHCP reviews and assessmentsFamily and Carer Engagement
- Contribute to positive communication with parents and carers
- Share relevant observations regarding pupil progress and wellbeing
- Support consistency between school and home-based strategies
What We’re Looking For
To be successful in this role, you will need:
- Experience supporting children or young people with PMLD, SLD, ASD, or complex SEND needs
- A patient, nurturing, and flexible approach
- Understanding of sensory-based learning approaches
- Experience supporting pupils with physical disabilities and/or complex medical needs (desirable)
- Knowledge of Makaton, PECS, AAC, or Intensive Interaction (desirable)
- Strong teamwork and communication skills
- A genuine passion for inclusive education and supporting vulnerable learners
- Experience in specialist schools, SEND provisions, care settings, or therapeutic environments would be highly advantageous
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