Mental Health TA

Academics; Chippenham; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PAYE weekly pay

September 2026 start

Job summary

Academics is seeking a compassionate Mental Health Teaching Assistant to support children aged 5-16 at a specialist school in Chippenham, Wiltshire. You will work with teachers, SEN professionals and therapists to foster emotional wellbeing and engagement in learning.

The role involves one-to-one and small-group support, helping children manage emotions and anxiety, and building confidence and social skills.

Qualifications

• Compassionate, patient, reliable and emotionally resilient.
• Experience in education, childcare, mental health, SEND, youth work, care or support work is advantageous.
• Graduates and aspiring professionals are welcome to apply.
• Interest in careers in psychology or education is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one and small-group support tailored to individual children’s needs.
• Help children recognise, understand and communicate their emotions.
• Support children experiencing anxiety, low confidence, emotional dysregulation or social difficulties.
• Follow individual support strategies in partnership with teachers and SEN staff.

Skills

Compassionate

Patience

Empathy

Emotional resilience

Job description

Are you passionate about helping children feel supported, understood, and confident at school? Would you like to gain practical experience in education, mental health, psychology, or therapeutic support while making a positive difference to children's everyday lives?

A specialist school in Chippenham, Wiltshire is seeking a caring and enthusiastic Mental Health Teaching Assistant to join its dedicated support team. The school works with children aged 5-16 who may have Autism, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, and additional learning requirements.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to work alongside teachers, SEN professionals, therapists, and other specialist staff while developing your understanding of the connection between children's emotional wellbeing and their ability to engage with education.

Your Role

As a Mental Health Teaching Assistant, you will provide personalised support to children who may experience challenges with their emotions, behaviour, confidence, relationships, or engagement with learning.

You will spend time building trusting relationships and helping children develop practical strategies that enable them to manage difficult situations more positively.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support tailored to individual children's needs.
• Helping children recognise, understand, and communicate their emotions.
• Supporting children experiencing anxiety, low confidence, emotional dysregulation, or social difficulties.
• Helping children develop appropriate strategies for managing stress and challenging situations.
• Encouraging children to return to learning following periods of anxiety, distress, or disengagement.
• Promoting positive behaviour through calm, consistent, and supportive approaches.
• Developing children's communication, social skills, confidence, and independence.
• Providing a reassuring presence during challenging moments.
• Working closely with teachers and SEN staff to follow individual support strategies.

About You

The ideal candidate will be compassionate, patient, reliable, and emotionally resilient, with a genuine interest in children's mental health and wellbeing.

You should be comfortable building professional relationships with children and able to remain calm and consistent when situations become challenging.

Previous experience within education, childcare, mental health, SEND, youth work, care, or support work would be advantageous. However, this position could also be an excellent opportunity for graduates and aspiring professionals looking to gain relevant experience before pursuing further study or training.

The role could be particularly valuable for individuals interested in careers such as:

• Clinical Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Counselling
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Social Work
• Occupational Therapy
• Teaching
• Special Educational Needs

What We Offer

• 85- 110 per day, depending on experience.
• Full-time, Monday to Friday position.
• September 2026 start.
• PAYE weekly pay.
• Practical experience supporting children's mental health and emotional wellbeing within education.
• The opportunity to learn from experienced teachers, therapists, SEN professionals, and support staff.
• Experience supporting children with Autism, SEMH, anxiety, and additional needs.
• Development of communication, behaviour support, safeguarding, and relationship-building skills.
• Valuable experience for future careers in psychology, education, therapy, and mental health services.

A Rewarding Opportunity

Working as a Mental Health Teaching Assistant gives you the opportunity to become a trusted and consistent source of support for children who may find aspects of school challenging.

Salary will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, and will be in accordance with the client's pay policy.