SEMH Teaching Assistant

Teaching Personnel Ltd.; Yeovil; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Teaching Personnel Ltd. in Yeovil is seeking an experienced SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a specialist education setting immediately. You will support pupils with EHCPs, including moderate learning difficulties and autism, providing targeted 1:1 and small-group assistance.

The role focuses on building trust, maintaining routines, and helping students manage emotions and engagement. You will work closely with teachers and other support staff, with weekly pay and CPD opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting SEMH or SEND pupils.
• Not entry-level; need confidence to hit the ground running.
• Ability to build trust and maintain appropriate boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted 1:1 and small-group support.
• Help pupils manage emotions and stay engaged in learning.
• Build positive, professional relationships with pupils.
• Use clear routines and boundaries to create consistency.
• Adapt activities to individual ability and communication needs.
• Encourage independence, confidence and positive choices.
• Collaborate with teachers and other support staff.
• Respond calmly when a pupil is overwhelmed or day is challenging.

Skills

SEND experience

Emotional regulation

Behaviour management

Communication skills

Job description

Location: Yeovil
Position: SEMH Teaching Assistant
Hours: Full-time
Start: Immediate October 2026 start

Teaching Personnel is seeking an experienced SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a specialist education setting in Yeovil immediately.

You will be working with children and young people who require additional support to access education successfully. Pupils at the setting have EHCPs and needs can include moderate learning difficulties and autism, with some young people requiring significant support around communication, emotional regulation and engagement.

This role needs someone who can look beyond behaviour, understand the individual child and create the consistency they need to make progress.

• Provide targeted 1:1 and small-group assistance.
• Help pupils manage emotions and remain engaged in learning.
• Build positive, professional relationships with young people.
• Use clear routines and boundaries to create consistency.
• Adapt activities to individual ability and communication needs.
• Encourage independence, confidence and positive choices.
• Work closely with teachers and other support staff.
• Respond calmly when a pupil is overwhelmed or finding the day challenging.

We are specifically looking for someone with previous experience supporting SEND or SEMH pupils. This is not an entry-level opportunity. You need the confidence and practical experience to hit the ground running.

The pupils need adults who are patient, emotionally resilient, understanding and predictable. You must be able to stay calm when behaviour becomes challenging, recognise when a young person needs space or reassurance and reset positively after difficult moments.

Your ability to build trust while maintaining boundaries will be essential.

Through Teaching Personnel, you can benefit from weekly pay, CPD and training opportunities, access to myTP to manage your work and ongoing support with your education career.

If you have solid SEND or SEMH experience and are available to start this October, we would like to hear from you.

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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