SEMH Teaching Assistant

Teaching Personnel; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily rates

Weekly PAYE pay

Dedicated consultant support

Free SEMH-focused CPD training

Job summary

Teaching Personnel is seeking an SEMH-focused Teaching Assistant to support students in Sunderland secondary schools. You will engage with pupils displaying SEMH needs and work under pastoral and inclusion teams to provide consistent, trusted support.

You will deliver targeted 1:1 and small-group sessions, help implement individual plans, and liaise with teachers and SENCO. A calm, empathetic approach and trauma-informed understanding are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting learners with SEMH needs in a secondary school context.
• Calm, patient approach with strong emotional intelligence.
• Confidence in behaviour management and de-escalation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted SEMH support to KS3 and KS4 students.
• Deliver structured 1:1 and small-group sessions.
• De-escalate challenging situations calmly and confidently.
• Work within individual support plans and contribute to reviews.
• Liaise with teachers, SENCO, and pastoral staff.
• Maintain records and uphold safeguarding responsibilities.

Skills

SEMH experience

Calm, emotionally intelligent

Behaviour management

Trauma-informed practice

Education

Qualifications in SEMH/mental health/education (desirable)

Job description

SEMH Teaching Assistant – Sunderland Secondary Schools
Competitive Daily Rates, Long-Term, ASAP Start

Teaching Personnel is recruiting a Teaching Assistant with SEMH experience for long-term positions across secondary schools in Sunderland, with a start date as soon as possible. These are not general classroom support roles — the schools are looking for someone who understands how social, emotional, and mental health needs present in young people, and who has the skills and experience to respond effectively.

You'll be working within established pastoral and inclusion teams, supporting students who may have had difficult experiences of education and who need a consistent, trusted adult in their corner. The relationships you build in this role are often the thing that makes the biggest difference.

What the role involves:

• Providing targeted support to students with identified SEMH needs across KS3 and KS4
• Delivering structured 1:1 and small group sessions
• De-escalating difficult situations calmly and with confidence
• Working within individual support plans and contributing to their review
• Liaising with teachers, the SENCO, and pastoral staff
• Maintaining accurate records and upholding safeguarding responsibilities at all times

What we're looking for:

• Demonstrable experience supporting young people with SEMH needs
• A calm, patient, and emotionally intelligent approach
• Confidence with behaviour management and de-escalation techniques
• Understanding of trauma-informed practice in a school setting
• Relevant qualifications in SEMH, mental health, or education are desirable
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service

What Teaching Personnel offers:

• Competitive daily rates reflecting your experience
• Weekly pay via PAYE
• Dedicated consultant support
• Free CPD and SEMH-focused training
• Opportunities for permanent employment

Contract: Long-term, Start: ASAP, Location: Sunderland secondary schools

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for 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.

Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with 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 all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.

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