Teaching Assistant – Specialist SEMH Base (Ages 11–16)

September Start | Monday–Friday | 08:30–15:30 | £93 per day (Negotiable DOE)

Looking for a role where you genuinely change lives?

This is far more than a Teaching Assistant position.

We're recruiting for a dedicated and compassionate Teaching Assistant to join a purpose-built specialist base within a secondary school, supporting young people aged 11–16 with trauma, emotional needs and anxiety.

Designed as a calm, nurturing environment, the base provides pupils with the opportunity to rebuild trust, develop emotional resilience and successfully reintegrate into school life at a pace that works for them. Rather than coping within a busy mainstream setting, students are supported in a safe space where relationships come first.

If you're someone who wants to make a lasting difference to young people's lives, this could be the most rewarding role you'll ever have.

Who would thrive in this role?

We're particularly interested in hearing from people who have studied or have experience in:

• Psychology
• Counselling
• Education
• Child Development
• Youth Work
• Social Care
• Mental Health Support
• Behaviour Support
• Residential Care
• Support Worker roles
• Experienced Teaching Assistants looking for a more specialist setting

This is also an exceptional opportunity for anyone considering a future career as a Teacher, Educational Psychologist, Counsellor, Therapist, Social Worker or SEN/SEMH Specialist.

The Role

Working alongside an experienced and supportive team, you will:

• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils who have experienced trauma, anxiety or emotional difficulties.
• Support students to regulate their emotions and develop strategies to manage challenging situations.
• Help improve attendance by making school feel like a safe, welcoming environment.
• Encourage confidence, resilience, social interaction and independence.
• Create a calm and consistent atmosphere where pupils feel understood and valued.
• Support learning through patience, empathy and encouragement rather than confrontation.
• Work closely with teaching staff and pastoral teams to ensure every young person receives the support they need.

We're Looking For Someone Who Is:

• Calm under pressure.
• Patient, empathetic and resilient.
• Able to remain composed during emotionally challenging situations.
• Confident supporting young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.
• An excellent communicator who builds trust naturally.
• Passionate about helping young people achieve outcomes they may never have believed possible.
• Positive, reliable and committed to making a real impact every day.

Why This Role?

Many of the young people you'll support find school overwhelming. Some struggle to attend, make friends or feel safe in a traditional classroom.

Your patience, encouragement and consistency could be the reason a pupil attends school for the first time in weeks, begins trusting adults again or rediscovers a love of learning.

This is a role where the small wins become life-changing moments.

If you've ever wanted a career where your work has genuine purpose, where every day brings the opportunity to transform a young person's future, this is it.

Salary & Hours

Daily Rate: £93 per day (negotiable depending on experience)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 3:30pm

Start Date: September 2026

Interviews

Interviews are taking place directly with the school before Thursday 17th July, with successful candidates secured ahead of the summer holidays ready for a September start.

If you're compassionate, resilient and passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and be part of a team that changes lives—one student at a time.

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.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
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