Teaching Assistant
- Watford, Hertfordshire
- £85-110 per day
- Permanent
- Full-time
Start Date: September 2025
Contract: Full-Time, Temp-to-Perm
Pay: £85-£110 per day (depending on experience)Support Beyond the Standard – Make a Real DifferenceAre you calm, empathetic, and able to think on your feet? Do you thrive in a role where flexibility, relationship-building, and patience are essential?Supply Desk is working in partnership with a nurturing school in Watford, seeking a committed and emotionally aware Teaching Assistant to provide 1:1 support for a child with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) — a complex profile within the autism spectrum characterised by high anxiety and a need for control.This full-time, temp-to-perm role offers the opportunity to build a lasting, positive relationship with a pupil who needs a highly individualised approach to thrive in the classroom.What You’ll Be Doing
- Supporting a child with PDA on a 1:1 basis throughout the school day
- Using low-demand, choice-led strategies to reduce anxiety and promote engagement
- Creating a calm, non-confrontational learning environment
- Working closely with the class teacher, SENCO, and external professionals to deliver a child-centred plan
- Promoting emotional regulation, autonomy, and positive social interaction
- Recording and reflecting on progress, triggers, and successful support strategies
- Experience supporting children with autism, anxiety, or behavioural needs – PDA-specific experience is highly desirable
- A compassionate, patient and creative mindset
- Confidence in managing emotionally distressed or avoidant behaviour using de-escalation strategies
- A commitment to consistency, flexibility, and safeguarding
- Strong communication and teamworking skills
- A desire to progress into a permanent role within a supportive school environment
- Opportunity to transition into a permanent position
- Dedicated consultant support and regular school feedback
- Access to specialist CPD, including PDA and autism training
- A chance to truly change a child’s school experience for the better
- Referral bonuses for recommending others
Call us on 01923 295300 for more informationTake the next step in your SEN support career — and become a trusted, positive presence in the life of a child who truly needs you.Supply Desk is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.