SEMH Teacher (Nurture Class), Richmond
January 2027 start, long-term leading to permanent, full-time, term-time only
£210 to £267 per day, PAYE, weekly pay
Interviews are being arranged now
What changes for a teenager when one teacher stays with them all day? Could you teach a secondary class that still needs the steadiness of a primary classroom?
For the young people in this nurture class, quite a lot. Most are of secondary age, but school went wrong for them early. Many are still working at the primary level in reading, writing and maths. A room they know and an adult who is there every morning give them something to build on.
This Nurture Teacher role sits within a SEMH specialist school in Richmond. You teach a small class of secondary-aged pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom also have autism or ADHD. The curriculum is primary-based and heavily adapted, so each lesson meets pupils where they are.
The School
The school works in a trauma-informed, therapeutic way. Classes are small, and support staff work alongside you in the room every day. Families and outside professionals are involved from the start, so you are never planning for a pupil in isolation. The class is a stepping stone. As pupils settle, more of their week is devoted to subject teaching.
Staff travel in from Twickenham, Kingston and the surrounding area.
What you will do
- Plan and teach a primary-level curriculum adapted for secondary-aged pupils
- Build steady routines so the class knows what each day holds
- Keep boundaries calm and clear, and help pupils repair things after a hard moment
- Work with support staff, families and therapists on each pupil’s EHC Plan targets
- Record small steps of progress in learning, confidence and readiness for subject lessons
About you
- A genuine interest in SEMH, autism or trauma, and in the young person behind the behaviour
- Experience leading a class, as a qualified teacher (QTS or QTLS) or an unqualified teacher
- A steady presence when a lesson does not go to plan, and the patience to start fresh the next morning
- Primary-trained teachers will feel at home with the curriculum, and secondary teachers who enjoy pastoral work suit the age group
- HLTAs, cover supervisors and instructors who have led learning for SEMH groups are also welcome to apply
Why apply
This is a long-term role with a clear route to permanent. After two terms, the school can move you onto a permanent contract with no transfer fee, so staying is a real option from the first day. You also get free CPD to keep your SEMH practice up to date, and your pay is paid through PAYE every week.
About Parker Smith Inclusion
Parker Smith Inclusion is an ethical recruitment consultancy that works only in SEND. It places Teachers, support staff, therapists, and leaders in long-term and permanent roles, never as day-to-day supplies. More than 400 educators have left five-star Google reviews, and over 1,500 have moved into new roles. One application covers every role, including SEND vacancies that never reach a job board.
Interested? Apply now or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion. If you are in a teaching post now, notice for a January start is due by 31 October, so an early conversation gives you time to decide.