Emotional Support Teaching Assistant – Hailsham

Engage Education; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agency parity pay

Dedicated consultant

CPD training

Refer a friend £50 voucher

Job summary

Engage Education is recruiting an Emotional Support Teaching Assistant in Hailsham. You will provide 1:1 and small group support to pupils with SEMH needs, helping them engage in lessons and manage emotions in a calm, structured setting.

Located in Hailsham, the role involves collaborating with teaching staff and parents to nurture resilience and confidence, with a focus on behaviour strategies and personalised support. The position is full-time.

Qualifications

• Experience with children or young people with SEMH or complex needs.
• Ability to manage behaviour consistently and positively.
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships with pupils.
• Patient, resilient and proactive approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small group support for pupils with SEMH needs.
• Support students in lessons to improve engagement and focus.
• Apply effective behaviour management strategies.
• Help students regulate emotions and develop coping strategies.
• Work with teaching staff, SEN teams and parents.
• Contribute to a calm, structured and supportive learning environment.

Skills

SEMH experience

Behaviour management

Engagement strategies

Relationship building

Job description

Emotional Support Teaching Assistant – Hailsham

£85–£95 per day | Full-time

Make a real difference supporting young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs in a specialist school setting.

Located in Hailsham, this specialist school supports pupils with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs. The school provides a structured, nurturing environment with small class sizes and a strong focus on behaviour, wellbeing, and personalised support.

Pupils present with a range of needs including anxiety, behavioural challenges, and trauma‑related difficulties. Staff work closely with students to build confidence, resilience, and re‑engagement with learning.

About the role:

As an Emotional Support Assistant, you will:

• Provide 1:1 and small group support for pupils with SEMH needs

• Support students in lessons to improve engagement and focus

• Apply effective behaviour management strategies

• Help students regulate emotions and develop coping strategies

• Work collaboratively with teaching staff, SEN teams, and parents

• Contribute to a calm, structured, and supportive learning environment

This role involves supporting pupils who may display challenging behaviour, so a calm, patient, and resilient approach is essential.

About you:

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have experience working with children or young people with SEMH or complex needs

• Are confident managing behaviour in a consistent and positive way

• Can build strong, professional relationships with pupils

• Are patient, resilient, and proactive

• Have a genuine passion for supporting young people

We also welcome applications from:
Youth Workers | Behaviour Mentors | SEN Teaching Assistants | Support Workers

Why choose Engage Education?

• We pay all our staff in line with the Agency Worker Regulations, meaning your pay will be equal to that of a permanent employee

• You will benefit from your own dedicated Engage consultant who will provide ongoing support and guidance

• You will be invited to our wide range of continued professional development (CPD) training sessions, provided by our in‑house team of experienced senior leaders. These are completely free to attend!

• Do you have friends or colleagues looking for work? Invite friends to join us & earn a £50 Amazon voucher when they work 5 days! You can refer friends from the UK or from overseas and you can refer as many people as you like!

All candidates will be required to undertake a valid enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance will be provided.

By applying for this role, you are consenting to Engage Education Ltd storing your personal details in our fully encrypted database, in line with GDPR requirements.

We look forward to hearing from you!