Behaviour & Learning Support Practitioner

Behaviour & Learning Support Practitioner – SEMH School

Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Contract: Full-Time | Monday–Friday | Long-Term
Start Date: ASAP

Have you worked with young people who struggle with behaviour, emotional regulation, trauma or engagement?

Are you experienced in youth work, children’s residential care, behaviour intervention, mental health, pastoral support or supporting vulnerable young people?

We’re recruiting a Behaviour & Learning Support Practitioner to join a specialist secondary school in Bradford, supporting young people aged 11–19 with complex Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This isn’t a traditional classroom support role.

We’re looking for someone who understands that challenging behaviour often has an underlying cause and who can build relationships with young people who may have experienced trauma, disrupted education, attachment difficulties or significant barriers to learning.

You don’t need to have worked in a school before. We’re particularly interested in people who have gained practical experience supporting young people in challenging environments and are confident transferring those skills into education.

What Will You Be Doing?

You’ll work alongside teachers, pastoral staff and behaviour specialists to support young people who may struggle to access mainstream education.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Building positive relationships with young people who may initially be reluctant to engage with adults or education.
• Supporting pupils who present with challenging behaviour, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, ADHD, Autism or trauma-related difficulties.
• Using de-escalation techniques to manage conflict, frustration and emotionally heightened situations.
• Providing individual and small-group support to help pupils access learning.
• Supporting young people who struggle with attendance, motivation, boundaries or relationships.
• Helping pupils develop emotional awareness, resilience, independence and positive coping strategies.
• Maintaining consistent expectations and professional boundaries while taking a nurturing, trauma-informed approach.
• Working with teaching and pastoral teams to identify triggers, reduce barriers and celebrate progress.

Success in this role isn’t always measured by academic results. Sometimes it’s helping a young person remain in the classroom, manage a difficult situation without escalation or begin trusting adults again.

The Young People You’ll Support

The school supports pupils aged 11–19 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Many have experienced significant challenges within their education or personal lives and may present with:

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties
• ADHD, Autism and communication differences
• Trauma and attachment-related needs
• Anxiety, low self-esteem or school avoidance
• Difficulties managing emotions, relationships and boundaries
• Behaviour that can be confrontational, disruptive or difficult to manage

The school provides a structured, supportive environment where relationships, consistency and emotional safety are central to helping young people progress.

What Experience Are We Looking For?

We would particularly welcome applications from people with backgrounds in:

• Children’s Residential Care: Supporting young people with trauma, attachment difficulties or challenging behaviour.
• Youth Work or Youth Justice: Engaging vulnerable or disengaged young people and encouraging positive choices.
• Behaviour Support or Pastoral Care: Managing behaviour, supporting emotional regulation and developing positive relationships.
• Mental Health Support: Supporting individuals with emotional, psychological or behavioural difficulties.
• Alternative Provision or PRUs: Working with pupils who struggle within mainstream education.
• Mentoring or Family Support: Supporting vulnerable young people to overcome barriers and develop confidence.

We would also welcome applications from experienced SEND Teaching Assistants or Learning Mentors looking for a more specialist, behaviour-focused position.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role?

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has practical experience managing challenging behaviour and understands the importance of remaining calm under pressure.
• Can establish trust with young people who may be guarded, disengaged or resistant to support.
• Understands that a young person’s behaviour should not define their potential.
• Can balance empathy and patience with firm, consistent boundaries.
• Is emotionally resilient, reliable and confident working within a specialist environment.
• Recognises the importance of safeguarding, teamwork and professional conduct.
• Is genuinely motivated to support young people who have faced barriers in their education.

Experience and suitability are more important to us than having a Teaching Assistant qualification.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Full-time, long-term position within a specialist SEMH school.
• Opportunity to transfer your experience from youth work, residential care or mental health into education.
• Work alongside experienced education, SEND and pastoral professionals.
• Gain valuable experience supporting young people with complex emotional and behavioural needs.
• Make a meaningful difference to young people’s education, wellbeing and future opportunities.

Apply Now

If you’ve supported vulnerable young people, managed challenging behaviour or worked in a role where building trust, setting boundaries and promoting positive change were essential, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV. We’ll be in touch to discuss your experience and how your background could transfer into this specialist school environment.