1:1 SEMH Teaching Assistant, South West London
Immediate start, temporary leading to permanent, full-time, Monday to Friday, term time only
£95 to £105 per day, PAYE, weekly pay
Interviews are arranged as soon as possible
Some children spend the whole school day trying to hold it together, and most adults only notice when they can’t.
I am currently working with a mainstream primary school in South West London that needs an SEMH Teaching Assistant to support one child with social, emotional and mental health needs. This is a full-time 1:1 SEN role with a route to a permanent contract.
The child you will support
A loud playtime or a sudden change to the timetable can take this child from settled to overwhelmed in minutes. When that happens, learning stops. Your job is to notice the early signs, help them calm down and get them back to the lesson with their dignity intact.
Over time, you become the adult they look for at the classroom door. The first week they get through a whole lesson without leaving the room is a moment you will remember.
The school
The school’s SEND team plans adaptations early for every child who needs them. They work alongside Educational Psychologists and mental health practitioners, so you will have people to turn to when a day gets hard. You will work closely with the class teacher and the SENCO every day.
The school is easy to reach from Wimbledon or Epsom.
What you will do
- Support one child with SEMH needs through lessons and playtimes
- Spot early signs of stress and use calm, consistent strategies to help them regulate
- Adapt tasks with the class teacher so the child can join in with their class
- Follow their support plan and record what works, so the plan keeps improving
- Build a trusting relationship that makes school feel safe for them
About you
- A genuine interest in SEMH and in understanding what sits behind behaviour
- Experience with children, paid or voluntary, in school, childcare or youth work
- You stay steady and kind when a situation starts to escalate
- You are happy to follow a plan and share what you notice with the team
- Mainstream TAs, nursery staff, play workers, sports coaches and psychology graduates are all welcome to apply
Why this role
- A route from long-term to permanent after two terms
- Daily support from the class teacher and the SENCO
- A SEND team that brings in specialist professionals early
- Weekly PAYE pay, so you know exactly what you earn
- Experience that builds towards a career in teaching or psychology
Safeguarding
This role requires an enhanced DBS check, and safer recruitment checks apply.
Interested? Apply now or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion. The school wants someone in place quickly, so early applications will be seen first.