SEMH Teaching Assistant
Location: Harlesden, Brent, North West London
Pay: £90–£110 per day (PAYE only)
Contract: Full-time, term-time only, temporary to permanent
Can you be the calm, consistent adult who helps a young person feel safe enough to try again?
A specialist SEN school in Harlesden, Brent is looking for a SEMH Teaching Assistant to join their team, supporting secondary-aged pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Many of the pupils have experienced disrupted education, trauma, anxiety, or significant emotional challenges. This school offers more than a timetable and a classroom. It provides structure, boundaries, and relationships that help young people rebuild trust, regulate emotions and slowly reconnect with learning.
This role is for someone who understands that behaviour is communication, and that the right support, delivered consistently, can change a child’s entire experience of school.
The role
Working closely with teachers, pastoral staff and therapists, you will support pupils through the school day and help them access learning in a way that feels safe and achievable. You will provide 1:1 and small group support, help pupils manage emotions, and guide them through challenging moments using restorative and trauma-informed approaches. You will follow behaviour support plans, contribute to interventions and EHCP targets, and support pupils during lessons, transitions and unstructured times such as break and lunch. Most importantly, you will build strong, trusting relationships with young people who may have struggled to trust adults in the past.
Who this role suits
This role suits someone who is passionate about inclusion and genuinely wants to make a difference for young people with complex emotional needs. You may already have experience supporting pupils with SEMH, behavioural needs or SEN, or you may come from a background in youth work, care, mentoring or pastoral support. You will need to be calm, resilient and empathetic, with strong communication skills and the ability to stay steady when things feel difficult.
This is not a passive classroom role. It requires emotional presence, active engagement and a commitment to being part of a team that never gives up on its pupils.
What’s on offer
£90–£110 per day, depending on experience
PAYE only, with a clear temporary to permanent pathway
Full-time, term-time only position
Ongoing training in SEMH, behaviour support and trauma-informed practice
Supportive leadership and a child-centred staff culture
Long-term progression opportunities within specialist education
Why this role matters
As a SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will be one of the key adults helping pupils rebuild trust, feel safe in school, and begin to believe in themselves again. Progress may be gradual, but it is real, and your impact will be felt every day.
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