DescriptionEmployerLocation
Post: Lead Autism Support Worker
Location: Curzon Street, Calne. Wilshire, SN11 0DS
FTE Salary Range: NJC Grade H Pt 15 -17. £31,537 - £33,699
Actual Salary Range: £23,703 - £25,328
Contract Type: Permanent, Part Time, Term Time Only
Working Hours: 31.25 hours per week
We are looking for a Lead Autism Support Worker (LASW) to join our child-centred team Springfields is a fantastic, vibrant and caring community that engages pupils and develops positive attitudes to learning. Our autism approach is accessed by all our pupils and is personalised to meet specific needs. All our pupils have an education, health and care plan. The Springfields Academy is a Reach South Academy for young people aged 4-19 with autism, we are proud to hold the NAS Advanced specialist award and to be recognised as an Ofsted good school. We have 250 pupils attending our provision. Our goal is to build safe independent lives for autistic young people through support, understanding and enablement. Part of the excitement of working at Springfields is the broad range of individuals that you will care for. A key aspect of working at Springfields is taking the time to get to know pupils and their individual needs, and given their complexity, being able to create a safe, stimulating and supportive learning environment is crucial. You will be joining a happy, hardworking and well-established team. You will also work in partnership with our multi-disciplinary therapy team as part of our therapy first culture. The position of Lead Autism Support Worker (LASW) is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and compassionate individual to lead interventions, cover classes and support our autistic learners.
The Person/ Key skills:
• To have a good knowledge and understanding of autism and social communication needs and appropriate strategies to support pupils with this need. E.g. TEACCH • To have knowledge and understanding of social, emotional & mental health needs and cognitive needs, that affect children and young people's development. • To have a track record of successful leading groups. Able to cover classes. • Excellent listening skills • An ability to build strong, trusting relationships • To be resilient and able to take regular responsibility for agreed learning /activities • Promote and support the inclusion of all pupils in the learning and social skills activities • To use positive and personalised anxiety management strategies.
What we can offer you:
• The opportunity to make a difference to the lives of our autistic pupils. • The chance to deliver an engaging and creative functional curriculum that builds independent life skills. • A close-knit team of professionals who work in a supportive and inspirational environment. • An outstanding learning community that engages pupils and develops positive attitudes to learning. • The opportunity to be involved in wider-school life through trips, clubs, collapsed timetable days, Duke of Edinburgh etc. • On-going, specialist professional development. • A comprehensive CPD package with opportunities for individual development and development of knowledge linked to good autism practice • A commitment to ‘Healthy Working Lives’ through a comprehensive trust Employee Assistance programme • A work laptop • Small class sizes
School Background:
The Springfields Academy is an academy based in Calne. We aspire to build safe independent lives for autistic young people through support, understanding and enablement. Additionally, we hold the National Autistic Society Advanced specialist award and are recognised as an Ofsted good school. We are an acknowledged centre of excellence for Autism; we are highly reflective in our practices, and are continually working to improve our provision and practices. We provide a personalised curriculum journey that enables our autistic learners to develop skills in areas of need and to overcome their barriers to learning. The drive to build ‘safe Independent lives’ shapes this curriculum and everything else that we do. The Academy has 270 pupils on roll.
Trust Background:
Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education. We operate 17 academies in Plymouth, Bournemouth, Dorset and Wiltshire. We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows. Our core business is delivering exceptional education for children and young people with a mission to help all pupils aspire to achieve beyond the expectations that others put on them. We do this through the development of a talented and committed workforce. In order to deliver exceptional opportunities for learning, we need highly motivated staff across all parts of the organisation.
Those we recruit are able to demonstrate that they share our values, are highly motivated to work with colleagues, within and beyond their school, to continuously develop their skills and pursue professional excellence.
Closing date: for applications is 5th October 2025
Interview Date: Interviews are provisionally booked for WC 13th October 2025
To apply for this opportunity, please complete our online application form by completing an application form.
We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. Therefore, an early application is strongly advised.
Opportunities and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary plus LGPS pension, great career progression and development opportunities, access to our Employee Assistance Programme with many other benefits.
We’re proud of how we support our staff in order that you have high levels of job satisfaction, are aware of the difference you are making for the children and families you work with and can see your contribution towards our community. There are regular opportunities for professional development and training, and a wider community of staff to network with within Reach South Multi Academy Trust. You will have the chance to visit other local schools, work alongside a range of outside professionals and take part in a variety of e-learning and face-to-face training.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Reach South Academy Trust has an Equal Opportunities Policy for selection and recruitment. Applicants are requested to complete the Equal Opportunities Monitoring section of the application form before submitting.
Safeguarding Statement
The Springfields Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.We particularly welcome applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.