SEN Teaching Assistant - SEMH & Complex Needs

Term Time Teachers; Lewes; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily rates

Local opportunities across East Sussex

Flexible long-term placements

Dedicated SEN recruitment consultant

Job summary

Term Time Teachers in East Sussex is seeking a dedicated SEN Teaching Assistant to support a specialist secondary setting in Lewes. You will work with young people aged 10-19 with SEMH, neurodiversity and complex backgrounds, helping them engage with learning and build confidence.

The role focuses on emotional regulation, positive behaviour support, and personalised learning both inside and outside the classroom, with flexible long-term placements and local opportunities across East Sussex.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting young people with SEMH, trauma or complex needs.
• Calm, patient, emotionally intelligent approach.
• Ability to respond to challenging behaviour in a positive, consistent way.

Responsibilities

• Supporting young people with SEMH and behavioural difficulties.
• Building positive, consistent relationships and providing a safe environment.
• Helping pupils overcome barriers to learning and develop confidence.
• Using patience and positive behaviour support to manage challenging situations.
• Encouraging independence, resilience and social development.
• Supporting personalised learning inside and outside the classroom.

Skills

SEMH experience

Calm under pressure

Relationship building

Behaviour management

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant - SEMH & Complex Needs

Lewes, East Sussex

Not every young person finds the traditional classroom easy. Could you be the person who helps them find their way back?

Academics are recruiting compassionate, resilient and dedicated SEN Teaching Assistants to support a specialist secondary setting in East Sussex, working with young people aged 10-19 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, neurodiversity and complex backgrounds.

Many of these young people have experienced significant challenges in their lives and may have struggled to access or engage with mainstream education. They need adults who can look beyond behaviour, understand individual circumstances and build trusting relationships.

The Role:

• Supporting young people with SEMH needs, emotional regulation and behavioural difficulties.
• Building positive, consistent relationships and providing a safe, supportive environment.
• Helping pupils overcome barriers to learning and develop confidence.
• Using patience, empathy and positive behaviour support to manage challenging situations.
• Encouraging independence, resilience and social development.
• Supporting personalised learning both inside and outside the classroom.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience supporting young people with SEMH, trauma or complex needs.
• Someone calm, patient, resilient and emotionally intelligent.
• Confidence responding to challenging behaviour in a positive and consistent way.
• The ability to build trust with young people who may initially struggle to engage.
• A genuine passion for helping young people recognise their potential.
• Experience in specialist education, youth work, residential support, mentoring or similar settings would be highly beneficial.

Why Work with Academics?

• Competitive daily rates of pay.
• Local opportunities across East Sussex.
• Flexible and long-term placements available.
• Dedicated support from a specialist SEN recruitment consultant.

Salary will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, and will be in accordance with the client's pay policy