SEN Teaching Assistant (SEMH)

Teach-Now; Chipping Barnet; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Teach Now is recruiting a resilient SEN Teaching Assistant with SEMH experience to join a secondary school in Barnet, North London. You will support KS3–KS4 students who may face social, emotional and mental health challenges, delivering calm, structured assistance.

You will work with teachers, pastoral and SEN staff to provide targeted 1:1 or small-group support, help students stay engaged, and assist reintegration into lessons after dysregulation, while maintaining safeguarding and

Qualifications

• Experience supporting secondary pupils with SEMH, SEND or challenging behaviour.
• Strong behaviour management and relationship-building skills.
• Calm, patient and emotionally resilient approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support for students with SEMH needs.
• Build positive, professional relationships with young people.
• Help students regulate emotions and engage with learning.
• Support individual behaviour and learning plans.
• Use de-escalation and positive behaviour strategies.
• Communicate observations to SEN and pastoral teams.

Skills

SEMH experience

Behaviour management

Teamwork

Calm under pressure

Job description

Barnet, United Kingdom | Posted on 25/08/2026

SEN Teaching Assistant (SEMH) – Secondary School

Location: Barnet, North London

Contract: Full-time, Long-term Temporary

Teach Now is recruiting a resilient and compassionate SEN Teaching Assistant with SEMH experience to join an inclusive secondary school in Barnet.

This role will involve supporting students across KS3 and KS4 who may experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties, behavioural challenges or barriers to engaging consistently with learning. You will work closely with teaching, pastoral and SEN staff to provide a calm and reliable presence for students who benefit from additional structure and encouragement.

Support may include 1:1 work, small-group interventions, in-class assistance and helping students successfully reintegrate into lessons following periods of dysregulation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide targeted support for students with SEMH needs.
  
• Build positive, professional and consistent relationships with young people.
  
• Help students regulate emotions and engage successfully with learning.
  
• Support individual behaviour and learning plans.
  
• Use appropriate de-escalation and positive behaviour strategies.
  
• Work with teachers to adapt tasks and reduce barriers to learning.
  
• Communicate observations and progress to the SEN and pastoral teams.
  
• Encourage independence, confidence and positive decision-making.
  

Requirements

• Previous experience supporting secondary-aged pupils with SEMH, SEND or challenging behaviour.
  
• Strong behaviour-management and relationship-building skills.
  
• A calm, patient and emotionally resilient approach.
  
• Good understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
  
• Team Teach, MAPA or similar behaviour-support training would be beneficial but is not essential.
  
• Enhanced DBS and right to work in the UK.
  

The School Can Offer

• A supportive SEN and pastoral team.
  
• Clear behaviour and safeguarding systems.
  
• Opportunities to develop experience within secondary SEND.
  
• A collaborative working environment where pastoral support is valued.
  

Pay will be determined based on experience and qualifications.

Teach Now operates stringent safer recruitment procedures.

We are committed to promoting equality and challenging discrimination. Teach Now is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Clearance.