SEMH Teaching Assistant – Alternative Provision
Location: Harlesden, Northwest London
Pay: £100–£110 per day PAYE
Contract: Full time, term time only, temp to perm
Do you believe that the right support, at the right time, can completely change a young person’s future?
For many pupils in alternative provision, school has been a place of challenge, exclusion, or unmet need. With the right support, that can change.
Join a specialist alternative provision in Harlesden that is dedicated to supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. This setting takes a therapeutic and trauma-informed approach, focusing on rebuilding trust in education, developing emotional regulation, and creating meaningful pathways for students who need a different approach to learning.
As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will play a key role in supporting students both in and out of the classroom. You will work on a 1:1 and small group basis, helping students manage emotions, engage with learning, and develop positive coping strategies. Every day will be different, requiring adaptability, patience, and a strong understanding of behaviour as communication.
As an experienced or aspiring SEMH practitioner, you will have the confidence to support students who may present with challenging behaviour, anxiety, or have experienced trauma. Your ability to remain calm, build rapport, and set clear boundaries will be essential in helping students feel safe and supported.
This is where your presence is vital to the continued personal and academic development of these young people.
The current team come from a range of backgrounds, including:
• Experience working in SEMH schools, alternative provisions, or PRUs
• Youth work, mentoring, residential care, or community-based roles
• A strong understanding of the challenges young people face outside of education
• A genuine passion for helping students re-engage and succeed
• A calm, resilient, and consistent approach, especially in challenging situations
If this role or any of the opportunities currently available with Parker Smith Inclusion has caught your interest, I’d like to share more details and guide you through the next steps.
Working with Parker Smith Inclusion, you will be respected for who you are and what you bring to the students in the schools we support. Contact Daniel at Parker Smith Inclusion so we can outline your next step in SEND education.