Location: Epping, Essex
Role: SEMH Teaching Assistant
Start Date: Immediate Start
Contract: Full-Time, Term Time Only
Are you passionate about supporting children and helping them feel safe, understood and able to succeed?
Parker Smith Inclusion is working with a specialist setting in Epping that supports primary-aged pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
The school is looking for a resilient, caring and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant who can build strong relationships with pupils and become a positive role model in their day-to-day lives.
This is an opportunity to work in an environment where understanding behaviour, building trust and creating positive relationships are at the heart of everything you do.
The Role
As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you'll work closely with pupils who may experience emotional and behavioural challenges that can make accessing education difficult.
Your role will involve:
- Supporting pupils in lessons and helping them engage with their learning.
- Providing one-to-one and small-group support where required.
- Building positive and trusting relationships with pupils.
- Acting as a consistent and positive role model.
- Supporting pupils with SEMH needs and challenging behaviour.
- Helping pupils regulate their emotions and develop positive coping strategies.
- Encouraging confidence, independence and positive behaviour.
- Working closely with teachers and other staff to provide consistent support.
- Helping create a calm, safe and inclusive learning environment.
The pupils may display challenging behaviour, so confidence, patience and resilience are essential. Previous experience working within SEMH, challenging behaviour, youth work, care or education would be highly beneficial.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is:
- Patient, resilient and calm under pressure.
- Passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning.
- Confident supporting challenging behaviour.
- Able to build genuine relationships with young people.
- A strong communicator and team player.
- Positive, consistent and willing to go the extra mile.
- Experienced working with SEMH or challenging behaviour — although transferable experience is also welcomed.
Why Parker Smith Inclusion?
At Parker Smith Inclusion, we believe recruitment should be about relationships first, not simply filling vacancies.
When you register with us, you get access to:
- A wider range of opportunities – including vacancies that aren't always advertised publicly.
- SEND expertise – we specialise in education and SEND recruitment and understand the environments you're applying to.
- CV and application support – helping you put your experience across in the best possible way.
- Interview preparation – including guidance tailored to the role and setting.
- One application, multiple opportunities – register once and we'll match you with suitable roles.
- Continued support – we're here throughout the process, from your first application through to starting your new role.
If you're looking for a role where you can genuinely make a difference to a child's life, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today with your updated CV or contact Harry at Parker Smith Inclusion to find out more.
Parker Smith Inclusion is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All candidates are subject to the appropriate safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check where required.