Aspiring Psychologist - Non-Verbal & Speech Language Support - LSA

Aspiring Psychologist
- Non‑Verbal & Speech Language Support
- Learning Support Assistant
- West Drayton

Location: West Drayton, Greater London
Start Date: September 2026
Pay: £108 per day |
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-3:30pm |
Contract: Full-time, Term Time Only

Are you a Psychology graduate or aspiring Speech & Language Therapist looking for hands‑on experience with non‑verbal communication and speech language support
? Do you want to help young people with communication barriers, selective mutism, autism, or trauma‑related speech hesitancy find their voice—without relying on words alone?

We are recruiting Learning Support Assistants for a specialist provision in West Drayton
, supporting students with SEMH needs, emotionally based school avoidance, and complex communication challenges. This role is heavily focused on non‑verbal resources and speech language development
—using PECS, Makaton, visual aids, emotion cards, sensory tools, and assistive communication technology to help students express themselves and engage with learning.

You will support students who struggle with:

• Anxiety, depression, and school avoidance
• Selective mutism and speech hesitancy
• Autism and social communication difficulties
• Trauma impacting verbal expression

Your focus will be on:

• Delivering non‑verbal communication interventions (PECS, Makaton, visual timetables, now/next boards)
• Supporting speech and language development through targeted activities and assistive tech
• Building trust and emotional safety to reduce communication anxiety
• Helping students regulate emotions and re‑engage with education
• Collaborating with West Drayton community services, speech therapists, and mental health teams

• Aspiring Speech & Language Therapists
• Future Educational or Clinical Psychologists
• Those pursuing Mental Health, Youth Justice, or Safeguarding careers

You will gain practical experience in:

• Non‑verbal communication strategies (visual prompts, gesture, sensory regulation)
• Supporting speech delay, selective mutism, and autism‑related communication needs
• Trauma‑informed, person‑centred approaches
• Building rapport with hard‑to‑reach young people
• Multi‑agency working within the West Drayton area

• 1:1 and small‑group support using non‑verbal resources
• Implementing visual schedules, emotion cards, and communication boards
• Using assistive technology and apps to support expressive language
• Encouraging emotional regulation and confidence in communication
• Recording progress and feeding back to speech therapists and SENCOs
• Engaging students in community‑based activities around West Drayton to build real‑world communication skills

• Psychology graduate or experience in care/youth work/SEND support
• Genuine interest in non‑verbal communication and