Does your experience show your understanding of autistic children: how they learn and experience the world? Could you share this effectively with school staff, families and children themselves to help them learn and thrive?
Understanding and supporting autistic children is a journey that requires empathy, patience and a deep commitment to learning and adapting. Autistic children experience the world in unique ways, and their learning processes are just as individual. They may have different sensory sensitivities, communication styles, and social understanding, which means that parents, educators and support staff need to be equipped with a wide range of strategies to meet their needs.
Led by an Advisory Teacher, Bexley Early Autism Service (BEAS) is pivotal in this context in providing early support to very young children with autism and their families as well as to schools, nurseries and playgroups.
As a member of this well-established and successful team, you will be working closely with children in their homes, alongside their family as well as with school staff to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment. By sharing knowledge and experience, and by providing tailored advice, as Specialist Support you can help autistic children to navigate the challenges they face, enabling them to engage fully with their education and reach their full potential. This role is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about being a bridge between different worlds, fostering understanding, and celebrating the diverse ways in which autistic children learn and grow.
Please refer to the Job Description attached for more information.
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Joan Ratcliff, Autism Advisory Teacher, 020 3045 5003, [email protected]
Candidate Profile
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed person to extend and develop their expertise in an advisory capacity. We are looking for an individual with at least 3 years' experience working with young autistic children; an in-depth knowledge of child development as well as proven experience of using strategies specific to supporting the needs of young children with social communication differences; with the understanding and creativity to enable these children to enjoy and achieve; and the ability to share this effectively with others.
You will have excellent communication and organisational skills. You will be flexible, committed to supporting other professionals, self-motivated, energetic and patient. You will work independently to manage effectively a varied and changing caseload and make decisions about day-to-day service delivery.
A good standard of education and at least three years’ experience of working with autistic children, ideally in an Early Years Foundation Stage setting, are a must, while an appropriate additional qualification would be an advantage. Naturally, we’ll provide you with additional, relevant training and support to make the most of this opportunity to make a difference to the lives of autistic children and their families.
For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).