SEN Teaching Assistant - Year 6; Autism & PDA Profile

SEN Teaching Assistant - Year 6 (Autism & PDA Profile) Stockport

Job Title:

SEN Teaching Assistant - Year 6 (Autism & PDA Profile) Stockport

Stockport

ASAP – July 2026

Full Time (Monday to Friday)

Are you an experienced SEN TA with a strong understanding of Autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)?

GSL Education Manchester is recruiting for a highly skilled SEN Teaching Assistant to provide 1:1 support to a Year 6 pupil with Autism presenting PDA traits in a supportive Stockport primary school. This role is available immediately through to July
, offering consistency during a crucial Upper KS2 transition period.

This is a role with some general classroom TA responsibilities but the school requires someone confident in low-demand approaches, co-regulation strategies, flexible boundaries, and trauma-informed practice
.

You will work closely with the SENCO and class teacher to create a bespoke support plan that reduces anxiety, builds trust, and encourages engagement on the pupil’s terms.

The pupil responds best to:

• Relationship-first approaches
• Indirect language and reduced demands
• Predictable routines with flexibility
• Emotionally regulated adults

Your role will focus on regulation before curriculum
, ensuring the pupil feels safe, understood, and supported in accessing learning.

• Provide consistent 1:1 support in Year 6
• Implement Autism- and PDA-informed strategies
• Support emotional regulation and minimise anxiety triggers
• Use co-regulation, diversion, and negotiation techniques appropriately
• Adapt tasks to promote autonomy and reduce perceived pressure
• Work collaboratively with SENCO, teachers, and parents

• Strong experience supporting pupils with Autism and/or PDA profiles
• Knowledge of low arousal approaches and demand avoidance strategies
• Experience in SEMH, specialist SEN, or alternative provision settings
• Calm, emotionally intelligent, and reflective practice
• Confidence working with pupils in Upper KS2
• A practitioner who understands that behaviour is communication

• Experienced SEN TAs
• Specialist provision staff
• Behaviour mentors with Autism experience

• Have the right to work in the UK
• Provide two recent professional references
• Hold an enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or be willing to apply)

If you are an experienced SEN practitioner looking for a meaningful, specialist role, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: This role requires a strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection. All successful applicants will undergo safer recruitment checks including an enhanced DBS.