Challenging Behaviour Teaching Assistant

SENDhelp; Slough; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive PAYE pay

No umbrella deductions

Dedicated consultant

Training & onboarding

Job summary

SENDhelp is recruiting an experienced Challenging Behaviour Teaching Assistant for a primary specialist school in Slough. You will support pupils with SEMH needs and emotional regulation, working alongside teachers and pastoral staff to maintain routines and engagement.

The role requires recent UK school experience, strong behaviour-management and de-escalation skills, and a resilient, calm approach. This is a full-time position with paid PAYE, working Monday to Friday, start in September.

Qualifications

• Recent experience working in a UK school.
• Direct experience supporting pupils with challenging behaviour.
• Experience supporting children or young people with SEMH needs.
• Strong behaviour-management and de-escalation skills.
• Ability to remain calm, firm and consistent under pressure.
• Clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities.
• Reliable and resilient approach.
• Employment history that demonstrates relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support.
• Helping pupils engage with lessons and structured activities.
• Reinforcing clear routines, expectations and boundaries.
• Using appropriate behaviour-management and de-escalation strategies.
• Supporting pupils following incidents or periods of dysregulation.
• Building positive relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Following behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures.
• Recording observations and reporting concerns accurately.
• Helping maintain a calm, safe and structured learning environment.

Skills

Recent UK school experience

SEMH needs experience

Behaviour-management

Calm under pressure

Safeguarding understanding

Reliable and resilient

Job description

Challenging Behaviour Teaching Assistant (BENL608) Slough, England

Challenging Behaviour Teaching Assistant

Location: Slough

Setting: Primary specialist provision

Pay:£93 - £100 per day

Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday

Start date:September

SENDhelp is recruiting an experienced Challenging Behaviour Teaching Assistant for a primary specialist school in Slough.

The role requires someone with recent UK school experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs, emotional dysregulation and behaviour that can challenge. Applicants should ideally have worked within a pupil referral unit, alternative provision, specialist school or a similar setting with strong behaviour-support responsibilities.

This is not an entry-level position.

The role

You will work alongside teachers and pastoral staff to support pupils who may struggle with emotional regulation, relationships, routines and engagement with learning.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support
• Helping pupils engage with lessons and structured activities
• Reinforcing clear routines, expectations and boundaries
• Using appropriate behaviour-management and de-escalation strategies
• Supporting pupils following incidents or periods of dysregulation
• Building positive relationships while maintaining professional boundaries
• Following behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding procedures
• Recording observations and reporting concerns accurately
• Helping maintain a calm, safe and structured learning environment

Applicants must have:

• Recent experience working in a UK school
• Direct experience supporting pupils with challenging behaviour
• Experience supporting children or young people with SEMH needs
• Strong behaviour-management and de-escalation skills
• The ability to remain calm, firm and consistent under pressure
• A clear understanding of safeguarding responsibilities
• A reliable and resilient approach
• Employment history that clearly demonstrates relevant experience

Experience within a pupil referral unit, alternative provision, SEMH school or challenging-behaviour provision is strongly preferred. Experiencein youth programs, prisons etc. would also be considered.

Applications without direct education experience supporting significant behavioural needs are unlikely to be suitable.

Supporting pupils excluded from mainstream education

Trauma-informed or restorative practice

Positive-handling or de-escalation training

Working with pastoral teams, SENCOs or external professionals

Supporting pupils with emotional dysregulation and barriers to learning

What SENDhelp offers

• Competitive PAYE pay
• No umbrella-company deductions
• A dedicated consultant throughout your placement
• Interview preparation and relevant training
• Support with registration, compliance and onboarding
• Further opportunities within specialist and inclusive schools

As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct.

All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy.

SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.