Teaching Assistant (Pastoral & SEMH Support)

Teaching Personnel; Preston; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A reputable primary school in Preston is seeking an experienced Teaching Assistant to support children's wellbeing. The candidate should ideally hold a degree in Psychology and have experience with SEMH needs. Responsibilities include providing 1:1 and small-group support, liaising with teachers on individual needs, and contributing to the school's pastoral provision. This role offers a chance to make a difference in children's lives while gaining valuable experience in education. Competitive salary ranges from £350 to £450 per week.

Benefits

FREE child protection and prevent duty training

Full assistance in DBS checks

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or vulnerable individuals, ideally with SEMH needs.
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small-group SEMH support.
• Liaise closely with class teachers and the SENCO regarding individual needs.
• Support wellbeing interventions in classrooms and dedicated intervention spaces.

Skills

Strong relationship-building skills

Open-mindedness

Commitment to inclusion

Resilience

Flexibility

Education

Degree-level qualification (Psychology preferred)

Job description

Teaching Assistant (Pastoral & SEMH Support) – January 2026 Start

Location: Preston
Contract: Fixed Term (initially)
Hours: 8:45am – 3:30pm (occasional extended hours for meetings)
Salary: £350–£450 per week (dependent on experience)

Are you looking to use your experience and passion for supporting children’s wellbeing within a mainstream Primary School setting?

A reputable Primary School in Preston is seeking to appoint a Teaching Assistant with strong pastoral experience, ideally holding a degree in Psychology, to support children across the school who require additional SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) support. Senior Leaders are deeply committed to promoting positive mental health and ensuring every pupil receives the right level of care and have therefore created this new role to strengthen their pastoral and inclusion provision.

The school is particularly keen to secure a candidate with knowledge of child development, mental health needs, or experience supporting children or vulnerable individuals. A Psychology graduate is especially encouraged to apply, as this background will add valuable insight and expertise to the pastoral team.

This is a rewarding and varied role where no two days are the same. Duties will include:

• Providing 1:1 and small-group SEMH support
• Liaising closely with class teachers and the SENCO regarding individual needs
• Supporting wellbeing interventions both in classrooms and dedicated intervention spaces
• Working alongside outside agencies where appropriateContributing ideas and strategies to enhance the school’s pastoral provision

The successful candidate will report directly to the SENCO and join a school where the Headteacher maintains an “open-door policy”, encouraging staff to share new ideas and contribute to whole‑school improvement.

Strong relationship‑building skills with both children and families are essential. Applicants must be open‑minded, committed to inclusion, and able to demonstrate a clear understanding of individual needs. Resilience, flexibility, and confidence working with colleagues across all levels of the school are key to success in this role.

Requirements

• Degree‑level qualification (Psychology preferred)
• Experience supporting children or vulnerable individuals, ideally with SEMH needs
• A commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and pupil wellbeing

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives while gaining valuable school‑based experience in a supportive environment.

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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