SEMH Teaching Assistant

SEMH Teaching Assistant – Secondary School

Location: West Leeds
Type: Full-time | Temporary to Permanent | September Start
Working Hours: 08:00 am – 15:30 pm
Salary: £95–£110 per day (dependent on experience)

Are you passionate about supporting young people to overcome barriers to learning? Do you have the resilience, empathy, and dedication to help students reach their full potential?

We are recruiting on behalf of a thriving secondary academy in West Leeds for a SEMH Teaching Assistant to join their dedicated inclusion team from September on a temp-to-perm basis.

This welcoming and inclusive academy is committed to ensuring every student receives the support they need to succeed. The school has a well-established pastoral and SEND provision, supporting pupils with a range of additional needs, with a particular focus on students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Many pupils also present with co-occurring needs such as Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), attachment difficulties, anxiety, trauma-related behaviours, and mild learning difficulties. The successful candidate will play a key role in helping students engage positively with education, develop emotional regulation strategies, and achieve both academically and socially.

The Role

• Provide Personalised Support: Deliver 1:1 and small group interventions for students with SEMH and additional SEND, adapting learning to meet individual needs.
• Promote Positive Learning: Support teachers in creating an engaging, structured, and inclusive classroom environment where every student can succeed.
• Build Positive Relationships: Develop trusting relationships with students, helping them improve confidence, emotional resilience, attendance, and engagement.
• Support Behaviour for Learning: Implement consistent behaviour management strategies and de-escalation techniques while encouraging positive choices and emotional regulation.
• Work Collaboratively: Liaise with teachers, the SEND department, pastoral teams, external professionals, and parents to support student progress and wellbeing.
• Celebrate Success: Recognise and encourage every achievement, helping students build confidence both inside and outside the classroom.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH and additional SEND.
• Calm, patient, resilient, and able to remain positive in challenging situations.
• An excellent communicator who can build strong, professional relationships with students and colleagues.
• Confident in supporting students who may display challenging behaviour using positive behaviour management strategies.
• Flexible, proactive, and able to adapt to the changing needs of individual students.
• A strong team player who works collaboratively while also using initiative.
• Committed to safeguarding, inclusion, and ensuring every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

Previous experience supporting children or young people with SEMH, SEND, youth work, care work, coaching, or mentoring is highly desirable, although candidates with transferable skills and a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable learners are encouraged to apply.

About Us

We are Engage Education, the most trusted education recruitment agency, with professional development and support at our core.

• Get paid in line with national scales (AWR compliant)
• Free CPD sessions
• Your own dedicated consultant
• Receive a £50 Amazon voucher when you refer friends!
• Wellbeing support, travel discounts, and retail offers from our partners

How to Apply

You can apply for this role below or get in touch with us directly. All applicants require the appropriate qualifications.

If you are not contacted within 2 working days, unfortunately, you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. All applicants must have a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting work. Full assistance will be provided.

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