Behaviour Teaching Assistant AP BB18

Tradewind Recruitment LTD.; Salterforth; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment LTD. in Barnoldswick is seeking a resilient Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant to support pupils aged 11-16 with SEMH needs in a small-class AP setting.

You will deliver 1:1 mentoring, apply de-escalation techniques, and help students engage with practical life skills and vocational tasks. The role starts as temporary supply with a clear path to permanent school contract.

A DBS and careful safeguarding are essential; mobility is helpful due to semi-rural location.

Qualifications

• Experience with SEMH, ASC, or severe behavioural challenges.
• Demeanour: resilient, emotionally intelligent, patient under pressure.
• Desirable Team-Teach, MAPA/CPI or rest-informed approaches; CPD provided.
• Enhanced DBS registered with Update Service (or ready to process) with a 10-year employment history.

Responsibilities

• 1:1 & Small Group Support: Deliver tailored learning and pastoral intervention to pupils who struggle within traditional classrooms.
• Behaviour Management & De-escalation: Implement calm, non-confrontational, trauma-informed de-escalation strategies to help young people regulate emotions.
• Pastoral Mentoring: Act as a steady positive role model, setting consistent boundaries and helping students identify emotional triggers.
• Curriculum & Life Skills Engagement: Assist lead instructors with bespoke functional skills, practical outdoor tasks and vocational activities.
• Progress Tracking & Safeguarding: Support EHCP outcomes, record daily progress notes, and uphold safeguarding standards.

Skills

Resilience

Emotional intelligence

Patience

De-escalation techniques

Relationship building

Job description

An established Alternative Provision (AP) in the Barnoldswick (BB18) area is seeking a resilient, calm, and proactive Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant to join their multidisciplinary pastoral and education team.

This setting supports vulnerable children and young people aged 11-16 who face barriers to learning within mainstream settings, often displaying complex Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, ADHD, ASC, or challenging behaviours.

Working with class sizes capped at 4-6 learners, your focus will be on building strong, trusting relationships, delivering 1:1 mentoring, and applying effective de-escalation techniques rather than standard academic enforcement. This role starts on a temporary supply basis with a genuine, planned route to transition onto a permanent school contract for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• 1:1 & Small Group Support: Deliver tailored learning and pastoral intervention to pupils who struggle within traditional classrooms.

• Behaviour Management & De-escalation: Implement calm, non-confrontational, and trauma-informed de-escalation strategies to help young people regulate emotional spikes.

• Pastoral Mentoring: Act as a steady positive role model, setting consistent, fair boundaries while helping students identify emotional triggers.

• Curriculum & Life Skills Engagement: Assist lead instructors with bespoke functional skills, practical outdoor tasks, and vocational activities to re-engage disaffected learners.

• Progress Tracking & Safeguarding: Support EHCP outcomes, record daily progress notes, and uphold strict safeguarding standards at all times.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: Direct background working with young people displaying SEMH, ASC, or severe behavioural challenges (within an AP, Pupil Referral Unit, secondary inclusion base, care, or youth work environment).

• Demeanour: High resilience, emotional intelligence, patience, and the ability to maintain composure under high pressure.

• Techniques: Formal training in Team-Teach, MAPA/CPI, or rest-informed positive behaviour management is highly desirable, though full CPD will be provided.

• Safeguarding: An Enhanced Child Workforce DBS registered on the Update Service (or readiness to process one immediately) with full, verifiable 10-year employment history.

• Mobility: Due to the semi-rural Pendle location and public transport timetables, access to a personal vehicle is an advantage.

Why Apply?

• Temp-to-Perm Pathway: Fast-tracked transition onto permanent school terms based on performance.

• Transparent PAYE: Weekly pay directly via PAYE with no hidden umbrella fees or margin deductions.

• Impactful Environment: Tight-knit, supportive staff community where you are given the autonomy and resources to truly make a difference.