SEMH Specialist

Protocol Education Ltd; Bath; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly PAYE payments

Free safeguarding training

Free CPD and professional development

Referral bonus £250

Dedicated SEMH consultants

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Protocol Education is recruiting SEMH Learning Support Assistants to support pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs across BS6. You will work primarily with Key Stage 1, with opportunities in EYFS and Key Stage 2, providing one-to-one and small group support.

The role offers flexible hours, weekly PAYE payments, and ongoing professional development. Join a team dedicated to safeguarding and inclusive education.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children in education, SEND, SEMH, youth work, care, or similar settings.
• Calm, patient and able to remain positive during challenging situations.
• Build strong and trusting relationships with young people.
• Understanding of SEMH, SEND, trauma-informed practice, or behaviour support.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.

Responsibilities

• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils
• Supporting children to regulate emotions and engage with learning
• Delivering targeted interventions and structured support sessions
• Assisting with behaviour support plans and emotional wellbeing strategies
• Promoting positive behaviour using a calm and consistent approach
• Supporting learning in phonics, literacy, numeracy, and wider curriculum activities
• Creating predictable routines that help children feel safe and secure
• Working closely with teachers, SENDCOs, and pastoral teams

Skills

Calm under pressure

Patience

Relationship building

Adaptability

Job description

Sometimes the Most Important Thing a Child Needs Is Someone Who Won’t Give Up on Them

Every behaviour tells a story.

For some children, school can feel overwhelming. Big emotions, anxiety, attachment difficulties, and past experiences can make learning harder than it should be. What makes the difference isn't always a new strategy or intervention. Sometimes it's a trusted adult who shows up every day with patience, consistency, and belief.

Protocol Education is working with a number of welcoming and inclusive primary schools across BS6 to recruit compassionate and resilient SEMH Learning Support Assistants to join their teams from November 2026.

If you're an experienced Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, SEND Practitioner, Support Worker, or someone with relevant experience supporting children and young people, this could be an opportunity to make a lasting difference.

The Role

You'll primarily support pupils across Key Stage 1, with opportunities to work in EYFS and Key Stage 2, providing both one-to-one and small group support for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils
• Supporting children to regulate emotions and engage with learning
• Delivering targeted interventions and structured support sessions
• Assisting with behaviour support plans and emotional wellbeing strategies
• Promoting positive behaviour using a calm and consistent approach
• Supporting learning in phonics, literacy, numeracy, and wider curriculum activities
• Creating predictable routines that help children feel safe and secure
• Working closely with teachers, SENDCOs, and pastoral teams

Success isn't always measured in academic milestones. Sometimes it's a child joining a lesson, managing a difficult emotion, or feeling confident enough to ask for help. Every step forward matters.

Why Work with Protocol Education?

At Protocol Education, we understand the vital role SEMH support staff play within schools.

• Competitive daily rates of £92-£96, paid weekly through PAYE
• Flexible work to suit your availability
• Opportunities in supportive local schools across BS6
• Dedicated consultants with SEND and SEMH expertise
• Free CPD and professional development opportunities
• Ongoing support and regular check-ins
• Easy-to-use booking and timesheet system
• £250 referral bonus when you recommend a friend

We take time to match you with schools where your skills are valued and where you can genuinely make an impact.

About You

We're looking for individuals who:

• Have experience supporting children in education, SEND, SEMH, youth work, care, or similar settings
• Are calm, patient, and able to remain positive during challenging situations
• Build strong and trusting relationships with young people
• Can adapt their approach to meet individual needs
• Have an understanding of SEMH, SEND, trauma-informed practice, or behaviour support
• Are passionate about helping children develop confidence, resilience, and self-belief
• Believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed

What We Need to Clear You

To get you registered and ready to start, we'll need:

• A valid passport or proof of your right to work in the UK
• Two proofs of address, such as a driving licence, utility bill, council tax statement, or P45/P60
• A CV covering the last 10 years of work and/or education history, with any gaps explained
• Two years of references, including childcare, care, or education references where applicable
• An overseas police check if you have lived abroad for 3 months or more within the last 5 years

Make a Real Difference

If you're someone who believes that patience builds trust, consistency creates confidence, and every child deserves an adult who sees their potential, we'd love to hear from you.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS and reference checks in line with safer recruitment practices.

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.