Semh Teaching Assistant

EmpowerED; Reading; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

EmpowerED is recruiting a Teaching Assistant in Reading to support children with SEMH and additional SEND in a nurturing specialist school setting.

You will work closely with teachers and professionals to provide consistent, individualized support, building trusting relationships and fostering emotional regulation. Experience in SEMH is desirable, along with a genuine interest in helping pupils engage with education and develop confidence.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting SEMH pupils is essential.
• Ability to connect with children who may be wary of adults.
• Strong communication and collaborative approach with staff.

Responsibilities

• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support children with SEMH and additional SEND needs.
• Help pupils regulate emotions and manage challenging situations.
• Recognise the communication behind behaviour to respond appropriately.
• Support pupils to access learning at their own level.
• Use calm, consistent, and considered approaches to behaviour.
• Encourage confidence, resilience, and independence.
• Support social skills and positive peer relationships.
• Provide individual and small-group interventions.
• Collaborate with teachers and specialist professionals.

Skills

SEMH experience

Patience and resilience

Relationship building

Job description

EmpowerED is recruiting for a Teaching Assistant in Reading to join a nurturing specialist school supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and additional SEND.

This Teaching Assistant role in Reading would suit someone who understands that behaviour is communication and can build positive, trusting relationships with children who may have experienced significant barriers to learning.

The school provides a structured, nurturing environment where pupils are supported to regulate their emotions, communicate their needs, develop confidence and successfully re-engage with education.

The Teaching Assistant role

As a SEMH Teaching Assistant in Reading, you'll work closely with teachers and other professionals to provide consistent, individualised support.

This isn't a role where you'll simply sit beside a pupil completing worksheets. Relationships are at the heart of the provision.

Your day could involve:

• Building positive and trusting relationships with pupils
• Supporting children with SEMH and additional SEND
• Helping pupils regulate their emotions and manage challenging situations
• Recognising the communication behind behaviour
• Supporting pupils to access learning at their individual level
• Using calm, consistent and considered approaches to behaviour
• Encouraging confidence, resilience and independence
• Supporting social skills and positive peer relationships
• Providing individual and small-group interventions
• Working closely with teachers and specialist professionals

The school also incorporates practical experiences and learning through play alongside carefully scaffolded academic learning.

Who are we looking for?

For this Teaching Assistant vacancy in Reading, we're looking for someone who is calm, resilient, patient and able to connect with children who may initially find it difficult to trust adults or engage with education.

Previous SEMH experience would be fantastic, but relevant experience can come from many different backgrounds, including:

SEMH Behaviour Support Youth Work SEND Mental Health Care Residential Support Sports Coaching Mentoring Alternative Provision

You don't necessarily need to have followed a traditional education career path. Personality and the ability to build relationships matter enormously in this environment.

Why consider this SEMH Teaching Assistant role?

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop genuine specialist experience within SEMH education in Reading.

You'll join an established, close-knit team with access to wider specialist support. The school's current team includes behaviour support, Speech & Language Therapy, Educational Psychology, play therapy and sensory support.

The school describes itself as a nurturing and inclusive community where children are supported within a safe, structured and predictable environment.

EmpowerED is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to our full safeguarding and compliance process, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.