SEMH-focussed Teaching Assistant

Protocol Education Ltd; Yate; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading education support provider in Yate is seeking SEMH Support Teaching Assistants to work with secondary-aged pupils requiring emotional support. The role involves providing 1:1 support, fostering trust, and adapting to individual student needs. Candidates should be calm, patient, and resilient, with a willingness to learn. The position offers competitive pay and the opportunity for professional development within efficient educational settings.

Benefits

Weekly PAYE pay

FREE access to online CPD Academy

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Prior experience in SEMH, mental health, youth work, or behaviour support is helpful but not essential.
• Ability to manage emotions and adapt approaches as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 SEMH support in lessons and around the school.
• Help students manage their emotions and routines.
• Build positive relationships based on trust and respect.

Skills

Calm under pressure

Empathy

Building relationships

Emotional resilience

Active listening

Job description

1:1 SEMH Support Teaching Assistants – Yate and Surrounding Areas

Up to £90 per day, PAYE
8.30 to 15.30, Monday to Friday
Mainstream and Alternative Provision roles

If you’re the kind of person who stays calm when things feel chaotic, who can read between the lines, and who believes every young person deserves someone in their corner, this role could be a brilliant fit.

We’re looking for SEMH Support Teaching Assistants to work with secondary-aged pupils in Yate who need a bit of extra understanding and emotional support to thrive in school. Many of the students you’ll work with may struggle with anxiety, low confidence, emotional regulation, or behaviour linked to unmet needs. Your presence, patience and consistency can make all the difference.

This is a role where relationships matter just as much as routines. You’ll help students feel safe, understood and ready to learn at their own pace.

What you’ll be doing

Your support will vary depending on each student’s needs, but typically you will:

• Provide 1:1 SEMH support in lessons and around the school
• Help students manage their emotions, routines and transitions
• Support de‑escalation with calm, steady communication
• Build positive relationships based on trust, respect and clear boundaries
• Work closely with teachers, pastoral teams and SEMH leads
• Model positive behaviour and encourage students to take small, manageable steps

Who we’re looking for

You’ll thrive in an SEMH role if you are:

• Calm, patient and emotionally resilient
• Able to stay composed during challenging moments
• Empathetic and able to see behaviour as a form of communication
• Confident building relationships with students who may be guarded or inconsistent at first
• Comfortable adapting your approach throughout the day
• A great listener who can offer reassurance and clear expectations

Previous experience in SEMH, mental health, youth work or behaviour support is helpful, but not essential. What matters most is your attitude, consistency and willingness to learn.

Where you’ll be working

We have SEMH-focused roles available in:

• Mainstream secondary schools, supporting pupils 1:1 or in small groups
• Alternative provisions, offering more personalised support for students who need smaller, specialised environments
• Pastoral spaces within schools, such as behaviour bases or nurture rooms

All settings offer strong support from experienced staff who understand SEMH needs.

What you’ll get with Protocol Education

• Weekly PAYE pay, no umbrella deductions
• FREE access to our online CPD Academy, including trauma-informed practice and behaviour modules
• A friendly local consultant who understands SEMH roles and local schools
• Opportunities for long-term roles and progression into pastoral, mentoring or specialist SEMH pathways
• A supportive team that values the huge impact these roles make every day

If you’re driven by connection, patience and the chance to change someone’s school experience for the better, hit apply and we’ll help you get started.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.

We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.