SEMH Teaching Assistant

Aspire People; Rochdale; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Aspire People are recruiting for a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a supportive school in Rochdale on a full-time basis. The role focuses on helping pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs engage with learning and develop resilience.

You will work 1:1 or with small groups, supporting regulation, behaviour and positive routines in a calm, patient manner within a nurturing environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people with additional needs.
• Calm, patient and resilient approach to behaviour.
• Ability to build strong, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Willingness to complete safeguarding and vetting checks.
• Proactive and reliable in a school setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support for pupils with SEMH needs.
• Support behaviour management in line with school policies.
• Build positive relationships with pupils to support engagement.
• Help pupils regulate emotions and develop coping strategies.
• Support learning activities within the classroom.
• Promote positive behaviour, structure and routine.
• Work closely with teaching staff and pastoral teams.
• Contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment.

Job description

SEMH Teaching Assistant - Rochdale

A supportive and inclusive school in Rochdale is seeking a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to join their team on a full‑time basis. The school works with pupils who present with social, emotional and mental health needs, many of whom require additional support to engage positively with learning.

This is a rewarding opportunity to play a key role in supporting pupils who may have experienced barriers to education, helping them build confidence, resilience and positive routines.

As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will support pupils both in and out of the classroom, helping them regulate their emotions, manage behaviour and access learning. The role is highly relationship‑focused and requires consistency, patience and a calm approach.

You may work on a 1:1 basis with specific pupils or support small groups, adapting your approach to meet individual needs. Building trust and acting as a positive role model will be central to your day‑to‑day responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support for pupils with SEMH needs
• Support behaviour management in line with school policies
• Build positive relationships with pupils to support engagement
• Help pupils regulate emotions and develop coping strategies
• Support learning activities within the classroom
• Promote positive behaviour, structure and routine
• Work closely with teaching staff and pastoral teams
• Contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment

We welcome applications from candidates with experience in:

• SEMH or behaviour support settings
• Alternative provision or PRUs
• Youth Work or mentoring roles
• Support Work, care or community‑based roles
• Schools or education settings

The ideal candidate will be:

• Calm, patient and resilient
• Confident supporting challenging behaviour
• Able to build strong, trusting relationships with young people
• Consistent in their approach to behaviour and boundaries
• Motivated to support positive change in young people

Requirements

• Full‑time availability, Monday to Friday
• Experience working with young people with additional needs
• A proactive and reliable approach
• Willingness to complete safeguarding and vetting checks