Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead
Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire
Start Date: September 2026
Pay: £108 per day
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Contract: Full-time, Term Time Only

Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant – Maidenhead – Education and Training
Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant – Maidenhead

Are you a Psychology graduate or an experienced Learning Support Assistant looking to build a career in mental health, education, or criminal justice? Are you motivated to support young people facing anxiety, depression, and barriers to education—helping them re-engage and succeed—using visual, sensory, and non-verbal strategies to build trust when words aren't enough?

We are recruiting Learning Support Assistants for a specialist provision in Maidenhead, supporting students with emotionally based school avoidance, SEMH needs, and complex emotional challenges. This role places a strong emphasis on working within the local Maidenhead community and utilising non-verbal communication resources—from PECS boards and emotion cards to sensory tools and visual timetables—to create safe, predictable spaces for vulnerable young people.

Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead – Education and Training - Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead

About the Role

This setting supports young people who have struggled in mainstream education due to:

• Anxiety and depression
• Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
• Trauma and negative school experiences
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs

Your role will focus on rebuilding confidence, trust, and emotional safety, enabling students to gradually return to learning in a structured and supportive environment. You'll work in a small, nurturing setting with a strong focus on:

• Emotional regulation
• Relationship building
• Personalised learning approaches
• Using non-verbal resources (such as visual aids, communication boards, PECS, sensory tools, and assistive technology) to support students who find verbal expression challenging—whether due to selective mutism, autism, or trauma-related speech hesitancy
• Engaging with the Maidenhead community through local projects, outings, and partnerships to help students reconnect with their surroundings (parks, libraries, and local youth hubs)

Start Date

September 2026 – Early application is recommended to secure interviews and trial days ahead of the new academic year.

Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead – Education and Training - Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead

Why This Role is Ideal

This position is perfect for aspiring:

• Educational or Clinical Psychologists
• Mental Health Practitioners or Therapists
• Youth Justice or Criminal Justice professionals
• Probation Officers
• Social Workers or Safeguarding professionals

You will gain hands-on experience in:

• Supporting young people with anxiety and depression
• Understanding behaviour linked to trauma and emotional needs
• Working with students at risk of exclusion or disengagement
• Building trust with vulnerable and hard-to-reach learners
• Applying trauma-informed and person-centred approaches
• Developing expertise in non-verbal communication strategies—using gesture, visual prompts, and sensory regulation tools to bypass verbal barriers and reach students where they are
• Building connections with Maidenhead's diverse community to create a sense of belonging and safety for students

What You'll Be Doing

• Supporting pupils 1:1 and in small groups
• Helping students manage anxiety, low mood, and school avoidance
• Building consistent, positive relationships with young people
• Supporting emotional regulation and confidence building
• Encouraging engagement in learning and daily routines
• Working closely with staff and external professionals
• Promoting independence, resilience, and life skills
• Implementing non-verbal resources such as visual timetables, emotion cards, "now and next" boards, and assistive communication apps to facilitate understanding and self-expression
• Collaborating with Maidenhead-based services (youth teams, mental health hubs, and community groups) to provide holistic support

What We're Looking For

We'd love to hear from you if you:

• Are a Psychology graduate or have relevant experience in care, youth work, or support roles
• Have a genuine interest in mental health, education, or behaviour support
• Are patient, resilient, and emotionally intelligent
• Have strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Understand how anxiety and depression impact behaviour and learning
• Have an interest in or experience with non-verbal communication methods (full training is available if not—we'll teach you PECS, Makaton, and sensory regulation techniques)
• Are committed to working within and giving back to the Maidenhead community

No school-based experience is required — your attitude, empathy, and willingness to learn are what matter most.

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.

Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead – Education and Training - Aspiring Psychologist – Non-Verbal Resources - Learning Support Assistant Maidenhead