London
Aspiring Educational Psychologist / Forensic Psychologist / Occupational Therapist
Aspiring Educational Psychologist / Forensic Psychologist / Occupational Therapist
Learning Support Assistant | Hackney | £107 per day
Company: Milk Education Location: Hackney, London (easily accessible by public transport; parking available) Salary: £101.40 per day Job Type: Full-time | Immediate Start | March, April, May or September 2026 start dates available
Are you a psychology or therapy graduate looking for the experience that sets your application apart?
If you are working towards a career in educational psychology, forensic psychology or occupational therapy — or simply want to confirm that working with children and young people is the right path for you — this role offers exactly the kind of hands-on, meaningful experience that postgraduate programmes and employers are looking for.
Milk Education is recruiting Learning Support Assistants on behalf of a specialist alternative provision in Hackney. This is not a typical classroom assistant role. You will be working in a small, nurturing setting specifically designed for children and young people who have been unable to access mainstream education due to anxiety, emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), autism, trauma, and complex emotional needs.
This is real-world experience with a genuinely complex and rewarding cohort — the kind of experience you cannot get from a mainstream school placement.
About the setting
The provision sits at the heart of Hackney — one of London’s most diverse and forward-thinking boroughs — and works with young people who have often had difficult or damaging experiences in traditional education. The focus here is on rebuilding trust, emotional safety and a love of learning, using trauma-informed, person-centred approaches delivered by a skilled multidisciplinary team.
Class sizes are small. Support is personalised. And the progress pupils make — however small it may seem — is genuinely significant.
What you will be doing
- Providing 1:1 and small group support to pupils with anxiety, EBSA, autism and additional learning needs
- Building therapeutic, trusting relationships with young people who may initially resist engagement with adults
- Supporting emotional regulation and helping pupils manage transitions, routines and social situations
- Implementing individual support plans in collaboration with teachers, therapists and external professionals
- Encouraging communication, independence and confidence through patience and consistency
- Using trauma-informed and person-centred strategies to help pupils gradually re-engage with learning
Why this role is ideal for your career
Working in this setting gives you direct, documented experience across areas that are central to careers in psychology, therapy and SEND:
- Supporting children with emotionally based school avoidance and anxiety
- Understanding how trauma shapes behaviour and learning
- Applying person-centred and trauma-informed approaches in a real educational context
- Observing and contributing to multi-agency working alongside teachers, therapists and clinical professionals
- Building skills in de-escalation, emotional coaching and relationship-based support
Many graduates use this role to strengthen their UCAS or postgraduate applications, build a reflective practice portfolio, and confirm whether educational psychology, forensic psychology, occupational therapy, SEMH support or youth justice is the right direction.
Start dates — flexible to suit you
- Trial period June and July 2026, with a confirmed September 2026 start
We welcome applications from candidates ready to begin now, and equally from graduates who want to secure the role ahead of a later start date.
Who we are looking for
You do not need prior school-based experience. What matters is your empathy, your curiosity and your commitment to working with vulnerable young people.
We would love to hear from you if you have:
- A degree in psychology, education, sociology, criminology, occupational therapy or a related field (or are currently studying)
- Experience in care, youth work, mentoring, support work or volunteering with vulnerable individuals
- A genuine interest in child development, mental health, SEN or therapeutic education
- A calm, reflective and patient approach
- The ability to build trust with young people who may find relationships with adults difficult
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset
Full training and onboarding support are provided from day one.
What Milk Education offers
- £107 per day
- A dedicated consultant who specialises in SEN and specialist provision recruitment
- Support throughout your registration including DBS fast-track
- Flexible start dates to suit your circumstances
- Genuine pathway to long-term or permanent employment within the setting
- A consultant who will take the time to understand your career goals and match you to the right school
Apply now
Our SEN consultant is reviewing applications this weekend. If you apply before Monday, you will be among the first candidates contacted.
Apply via Indeed or send your CV directly to the Milk Education SEN team. We welcome calls and messages over the weekend — don’t wait.
Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory professional references. Right to work in the UK is required.
Milk Education | Specialist SEN Education Recruitment | London