SEND & SEMH Teaching Assistant – Bristol

Full-Time | Monday-Friday | Long-Term | ASAP Start | Opportunity to Go Permanent

Are you a Teaching Assistant who looks beyond behaviour and asks what a child might be trying to communicate?

Can you stay calm when a child is overwhelmed, build trust with pupils who need consistency and help them find their way back into learning?

We are recruiting an exceptional SEND Teaching Assistant to join a highly inclusive primary school in Bristol, providing dedicated 1:1 and small-group support to children with SEND and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This is a full-time, 5-day-per-week role starting ASAP, offering genuine long-term stability.

For successful applicants who are interested, there is also the opportunity to move into a permanent position with the school.

If you’re looking for a Teaching Assistant role where relationship-building, emotional regulation and understanding the individual child really matter, this could be the opportunity for you.

Your Role as a SEND Teaching Assistant

As a SEND Teaching Assistant, you’ll work closely with teachers and the wider inclusion team to help children overcome the barriers that can make accessing school difficult.

You’ll provide a mixture of 1:1 and small-group support, working with children who may have needs relating to:

SEMH | Autism | ADHD | Communication & Interaction | Emotional Regulation | Anxiety | Attachment | Additional Learning Needs

For some children, your support will focus on learning.

For others, the first challenge might be helping them regulate their emotions, manage anxiety, communicate what they need or successfully remain within the learning environment.

That’s why we’re looking for someone who understands that being a brilliant Teaching Assistant is about much more than completing worksheets.

Behaviour Is Communication

A child becoming dysregulated isn’t necessarily choosing to give you a difficult time.

They may be having a difficult time.

We’re looking for a Teaching Assistant who understands that distinction.

Someone who can recognise triggers before they become crises.

Someone who can maintain boundaries without creating confrontation.

Someone who can use positive relationships, structure and consistency to help children feel safe.

And when a child does become overwhelmed, someone who can remain the calm adult in the room.

You’ll help pupils regulate, recover and – when they’re ready – successfully return to learning.

What You’ll Be Doing

Your responsibilities could include:

• Providing dedicated 1:1 SEND and SEMH support throughout the school day.

• Working with small groups to deliver targeted interventions.

• Supporting children with SEMH, Autism, ADHD, anxiety, communication needs and additional SEND.

• Helping pupils understand and regulate their emotions.

• Recognising potential triggers and intervening proactively.

• Using personalised strategies to support children during periods of dysregulation.

• Providing calm and consistent support when behaviour becomes challenging.

• Helping pupils successfully re-engage with learning.

• Supporting children’s confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

• Providing structure during transitions and less predictable parts of the school day.

• Maintaining positive relationships alongside clear and appropriate boundaries.

• Encouraging children to become increasingly independent.

• Working closely with teachers and SEND professionals to provide consistent support.

Who Are We Looking For?

Previous UK experience within education and/or health and social care is essential.

You could already be working as a:

SEND Teaching Assistant | SEMH Teaching Assistant | SEN Teaching Assistant | Learning Support Assistant | Behaviour Mentor | Youth Worker | Mental Health Support Worker | Children’s Support Worker | Residential Support Worker | Care Worker

Experience supporting children with SEMH, Autism, ADHD, attachment needs, anxiety, emotional dysregulation or behaviours that challenge would be particularly valuable.

But your approach matters just as much.

We’re looking for someone who is:

Calm – particularly when a child isn’t.

Consistent – because children need to know what to expect from the adults around them.

Patient – because trust isn’t always built quickly.

Resilient – because some days will challenge you.

Observant – because recognising the signs of dysregulation early can prevent escalation.

Positive – because children need adults who notice their progress.

Reliable – because consistency can be incredibly important for pupils with SEND and SEMH needs.

Health & Social Care Experience? Your Skills Could Transfer Brilliantly.

Some of the strongest Teaching Assistants don’t start their careers in schools.

If you’ve worked within UK health and social care, mental health, residential care, youth services or another relevant support environment, you may already have exactly the skills we’re looking for.

De-escalation.

Safeguarding.

Understanding behaviour.

Emotional regulation.

Maintaining professional boundaries.

Following individual support plans.

Building trust with vulnerable individuals.

Remaining calm under pressure.

Those skills can be incredibly valuable within SEND education.

If you’re ready to bring them into a school and can commit to Monday to Friday, we want to hear from you.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an inclusive primary environment in Bristol where supporting children’s emotional wellbeing is an important part of helping them succeed academically.

The school uses targeted and individual approaches to support pupils with additional needs, including work around emotional regulation, social skills, self-esteem, anxiety, safe spaces and personalised behaviour support.

For an ambitious SEND Teaching Assistant, that creates an excellent environment to develop meaningful experience supporting children with SEMH and additional needs.

You’ll work alongside experienced colleagues and have the opportunity to deepen your understanding of SEND, SEMH, emotional regulation, de-escalation and positive behaviour support.

Most importantly, you’ll have time to build relationships.

We’re Looking for Long-Term Commitment

Children with SEND and SEMH needs benefit enormously from consistency.

They need to know who is going to be there tomorrow.

And next week.

And next term.

That’s why this position is specifically for candidates who can commit to full-time work, Monday to Friday, 5 days per week.

This isn’t aimed at someone looking for occasional supply days.

We’re looking for a Teaching Assistant who wants to become part of one school community, understand their pupils properly and see the progress that comes from consistent support.

Role: SEND & SEMH Teaching Assistant
Location: Bristol
Start: ASAP
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday – 5 days per week
Contract: Long-term and ongoing
Permanent opportunity: Yes – for successful applicants who are interested
Experience required: Previous UK education and/or health and social care experience
Support: 1:1 and small-group SEND/SEMH support

Sometimes the Biggest Wins Look Small

A child recognising they’re becoming overwhelmed and asking for a break.

A pupil returning to the classroom after a difficult morning.

A child who normally says “I can’t” deciding to give something a go.

A pupil learning to regulate an emotion they previously expressed through behaviour.

These moments might look small from the outside.

For that child, they can be enormous.

If you’re an experienced Teaching Assistant looking for a full-time, long-term opportunity – or you’re ready to transfer your UK health and social care experience into education – we’d love to hear from you.

Join an inclusive primary setting in Bristol, build genuine relationships and become the consistent adult who helps children move forward.

Apply today for this SEND Teaching Assistant opportunity and an ASAP start in Bristol.

As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct.

All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy.

SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.