SEMH Teaching Assistant

Voyage Education Partnership; Long Lee; Hybrid; GBP 16,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Maternity, Shared Parental, Paternity,

Vivup lifestyle discounts

Job summary

Northern Star Academies Trust is seeking a caring SEMH Teaching Assistant to support a Year 6 pupil at Holycroft Primary School in Keighley. The role provides 28 hours per week during term time, with a fixed-term contract until August 2027, to help the pupil feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

The successful candidate will work with the class teacher, SENCO and wider school team to nurture emotional regulation and independence, while encouraging engagement with the curriculum.

Qualifications

• Experience with SEMH needs or a strong interest is desirable.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Ability to manage emotions and support strategies for pupils.
• Work with the class teacher, SENCO and wider school team for consistency.
• Support the pupil during less structured times like break and lunchtime.

Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1 support for a Year 6 pupil throughout the school day.
• Building a positive, trusting and consistent relationship with the pupil.
• Supporting the pupil to manage emotions and develop appropriate coping strategies.
• Encouraging engagement in learning and helping the pupil access the curriculum.
• Supporting positive behaviour and following agreed strategies and individual plans.
• Helping the pupil develop social skills, confidence and independence.
• Working closely with the class teacher, SENCO and other professionals to ensure consistency of support.
• Supporting the pupil during less structured times, such as break and lunchtime.

Skills

SEMH experience

Patience

Relationship building

Teamwork

Communication with families

Calm under pressure

Job description

SEMH Teaching Assistant (Holycroft Primary School)

Location: Holycroft Primary School, Keighley, UK

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Education Phases: Primary;

Job Roles: Teaching Assistant;

Working Patterns: Part-Time;

Application Deadline: Friday, 2nd October 2026

Interview Date: TBC

Expected Working Start Date: TBC

Is a Shared Job: No

About us

Northern Star Academies Trust is a thriving family of 15 schools, serving the communities of Keighley, Bradford, Skipton, and Harrogate.

Our vision is rooted in our core values: Nurture, Sustain, Aspire, and Thrive. Together, we work tirelessly to create environments where children and staff alike can flourish.

Job Description

Hours of Work - 28 hours per week: Term time only Monday - Friday 8:45am - 3:00pm (Actual Salary £16,208 - £16,988) - Fixed term contact until August 2027, due to being linked to a specific child

We arelooking for a caring, patient and resilient SEMH Teaching Assistant tojoin our dedicated team and provide individualised support to a pupil in Year6.

This is arewarding opportunity for someone who understands that children’s behaviour isoften a form of communication and who can build a trusting, positiverelationship with a child who may experience difficulties with social,emotional and mental health (SEMH).

Thesuccessful candidate will work closely with the class teacher, SENCO and widerschool team to support the pupil to feelsafe, valued and ready to learn, whilst helping them to develop greaterindependence, confidence and emotional regulation.

The role will include:

• Providing 1:1 support for a Year 6 pupilthroughout the school day.
• Building a positive,trusting and consistent relationship with the pupil.
• Supporting the pupil tomanage emotions, regulate their behaviour and develop appropriately strategies for coping with challenges.
• Encouraging engagement in learning and helping the pupil to access the curriculum.
• Supporting positivebehaviour and following agreed strategies and individual plans.
• Helping the pupil develop their social skills, confidence and independence.
• Working closely with theclass teacher, SENCO and other professionals to ensure consistency of support.
• Supporting the pupil duringless structured times, such as break and lunchtime, where appropriate.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is calm, patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Has experience of, or astrong interest in, supporting children with SEMH needs.
• Can establish positiverelationships whilst maintaining clearand consistent boundaries.
• Understands the importanceof consistency, routine and positive reinforcement.
• Is able to remain calm andprofessional when faced with challenging situations.
• Has high expectations of children and believes passionately in their ability to succeed.
• Can work effectively as partof a team and communicate well with colleagues and families.
• Is enthusiastic, reliable and committed to supporting the whole child.

Experience of working with children with SEMH needsis desirable, but we would also welcome applications from individuals who havethe right qualities, attitude and commitment and are keen to develop theirskills.

What we can offer:

• A welcoming and supportiveschool environment.
• A dedicated and committedstaff team.
• The opportunity to make agenuine difference to a child’s life and educational experience.
• Support and professionaldevelopment to help you grow in your role.
• A rewarding opportunity todevelop your experience in supporting children with additional needs.

If youare someone who can see beyond the behaviour, build meaningful relationshipsand help a child recognise their own strengths and potential, we would loveto hear from you.

For more information and to check you meet the essential requirements, please download the Job Description and Person Specification.

If you have any queries, please contact us at [e-mail]

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA)1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended2013 and 2020)) provides that when applying for certain jobs, certain spentconvictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed toemployers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them intoaccount. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should bedisclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and furtherinformation about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Maternity, Shared Parental, Paternity, and Adoption pay.
• A huge range of discounts to help you save money across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers through our lifestyle benefits provider Vivup.

Person Specification - Teaching Assistant.pdf