SEND & SEMH Opportunities

SEND & SEMH Opportunities | Teachers & Support Staff | East Sussex

Sometimes finding the right role starts with working out what kind of school actually suits you.

I'm currently recruiting across a range of specialist SEND and SEMH schools throughout East Sussex, and I'm looking to connect with more educators for the 2026/27 academic year.

That includes experienced SEND professionals, people currently working in mainstream education and those with relevant experience from outside schools who are interested in making the move into specialist education.

I work across Hastings, Battle, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Seaford, Newhaven, Lewes and surrounding areas, with opportunities across both primary and secondary settings.

What I'm recruiting for

Depending on your experience and what you're looking for, roles can include:

• SEND & SEMH Teachers
• Teaching Assistants
• Learning Support Assistants
• Behaviour & Engagement Mentors
• 1:1 Support
• Pastoral & Intervention roles
• Flexible day-to-day work
• Long-term and ongoing placements

The important thing is that these aren't all versions of the same job.

A role supporting pupils with SEMH needs can feel very different from working within another specialist setting. Even two schools supporting similar pupils can have completely different environments, approaches and expectations.

That's why finding the right fit matters.

What makes somebody good at SEND?

Before moving into recruitment, I spent several years working directly within SEND education myself.

The people I saw do particularly well weren't all alike.

Some were naturally calm and measured. Others brought loads of energy. Some were brilliant at helping pupils regulate, while others had a knack for getting young people engaged in learning when they'd previously switched off from education.

What mattered was their ability to get to know the individual young person and adapt accordingly.

SEND can require patience and resilience. There will be times when a pupil struggles to engage, behaviour becomes challenging or something you've planned simply doesn't work.

But there are also plenty of moments where you realise that something seemingly quite small represents a significant step forward for that young person.

That's a big part of what kept me working in the sector for as long as I did.

What if your experience isn't in SEND?

It's still worth speaking.

Depending on the vacancy, schools can consider candidates coming from:

• Mainstream education
• Care and support work
• Youth work
• Sports coaching
• Mentoring
• Tutoring
• Other roles supporting children and young people

I'm not going to suggest that every background automatically transfers into every SEND role.

Instead, we'll talk about what you've actually done, the skills you've developed and the type of setting you're considering.

If there's a sensible route in, we can explore it.

What happens after you apply?

I'll speak with you about your experience, location and what you're actually looking for.

Maybe you want a full-time position where you can properly become part of a school.

Maybe you'd prefer flexible work while you experience a few different settings.

Maybe you're an experienced SEND Teacher who already knows exactly what environment works for you.

There's no need to squeeze everybody into the same box.

Pay & practical information

Teaching Assistant and LSA opportunities are paid from £92.60 per day, with qualified teaching roles paid to scale where applicable.

I'm recruiting for flexible, long-term and ongoing opportunities throughout the 2026/27 academic year, with access to CPD and professional development.

You'll need an Enhanced Child Workforce DBS registered on the Update Service. If you don't currently hold one, you'll need to apply through us and join the Update Service. I'll guide you through the process, although the associated cost is covered by the applicant.

We'll also require your full employment and education history and references covering 24 months of employment in total where possible, prioritising recent and relevant employment.

Interested?

Whether SEND is already your career or you're starting to wonder whether it could be, apply and tell me a little about yourself.

We can have a proper conversation about what you're looking for and which opportunities across East Sussex might be worth exploring.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
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