We are proud to be Cambridgeshire’s first state-maintained Autism Specialist school and the world’s first IB special school. Following our Outstanding Ofsted rating in March 2024, we are expanding our provision and are now looking for a, passionate, and innovative Teaching assistant to join our dynamic teaching team.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a forward-thinking, trauma-informed, and inclusive setting that puts pupil wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Our pupils are autistic, each with their own strengths and challenges, and our mission — Enabling the Self — is to ensure they leave school confident, self-aware, and ready for the future.
About the Role
As a teaching assistant at The Cavendish School, you will play a vital role in supporting the communication and wellbeing of autistic pupils with complex needs by:
- Working alongside the class teacher to deliver engaging, inclusive learning experiences tailored to each pupil’s needs
- Providing individual and small-group support to help pupils access the curriculum and build confidence, communication, and independence
- Supporting pupils with sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing in our purpose-built therapeutic environment, including sensory rooms and regulation spaces
- Helping to prepare learning resources, support classroom routines, and contribute to observations that inform planning and progress tracking
- Modelling and implementing a range of autism-specific strategies in the classroom, in line with our trauma-informed and therapeutic thinking approach
- Working closely with our multidisciplinary team — including therapists, teachers, and leaders
- Contributing to a whole-school culture of reflective, trauma-informed practice rooted in our ethos of “enabling the self”.
We are looking for someone who believes that autism is not a limitation, but a different way of thinking and experiencing the world — and who is passionate about enabling each pupil to grow, learn and thrive in a setting that celebrates individuality.
