Teaching Assistant (Secondary SEN)

Teaching Assistant - SEMH Specialist Provision

Hours: Full-time (Monday-Friday)
Pay: £14.25 per hour

We are looking for a resilient, consistent and proactive Teaching Assistant to support a specialist secondary provision for pupils aged 11-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This is a hands-on support role where you will work closely with teachers to help pupils engage in learning and manage their behaviour. The focus is on building trust, maintaining structure, and supporting pupils throughout the school day.

Key duties include:

• Supporting teachers in delivering structured, engaging lessons
• Working 1:1 and in small groups to re-engage pupils in learning
• Reinforcing learning and helping pupils stay on task
• Supporting behaviour using clear boundaries and de-escalation strategies
• Assisting pupils during transitions and unstructured times
• Building positive, consistent relationships with pupils

Many pupils have experienced disruption in education and may be at risk of exclusion or involvement in negative behaviours outside of school.

They may present with:

• Emotional dysregulation (anger, anxiety, frustration)
• Low confidence and disengagement from education
• Challenging or confrontational behaviour
• Difficulty forming positive relationships with adults and peers

Your role will focus on support, stability and positive influence; helping pupils regulate emotions, make better choices, and stay engaged in education.

We are particularly interested in candidates with backgrounds that offer a strong understanding of behaviour and risk, such as:

• PRUs or alternative provisions
• Youth work or mentoring
• Behaviour support roles
• Care or residential work
• Sports coaching or community-based roles
• Experience supporting young people at risk of exclusion or offending

You will need to be calm, patient, and able to build respect while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

• Experience working with secondary-aged young people (SEMH/PRU desirable)
• Strong behaviour management and de-escalation skills
• Resilient, adaptable, and emotionally aware
• Able to build trust with hard-to-reach pupils
• A team player willing to support across the school day
• A genuine commitment to supporting young people with additional needs