Teaching Assistant – SEMH Specialist School

Location: Haywards Heath, West Sussex
Full Time | Long Term | Term Time | September Start

Are you a Teaching Assistant who wants a role where you can genuinely make a difference to a young person’s life?

SENDhelp is recruiting for a passionate, resilient and engaging Teaching Assistant to join a specialist education setting in Haywards Heath. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives on building strong relationships with young people and wants to work within a supportive, highly personalised environment.

About the School

This specialist provision supports young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, with pupils requiring a highly individualised approach to education. Young people may also present with additional needs such as learning difficulties, attachment needs and behaviours that can challenge.

The wider academy’s approach places pupils at the centre of their education, using small teaching groups, personalised learning and strong classroom support to help young people develop academically, socially and emotionally. Pupils also have access to therapeutic interventions and emotional wellbeing support.

For the right Teaching Assistant, this is an opportunity to become an important and trusted adult in a young person’s life – helping them rebuild confidence, engage with education and recognise what they are capable of achieving.

Your Role as a Teaching Assistant

Working within the Haywards Heath setting, you will:

• Provide individual and small-group support to pupils with SEMH and additional needs

• Support the class teacher with delivering engaging and accessible learning

• Build positive, consistent and trusting relationships with young people

• Support pupils who may have struggled within previous educational settings

• Help pupils regulate their emotions and manage challenging situations

• Use positive behaviour strategies to encourage engagement and participation

• Support learning across the curriculum and adapt your approach to individual needs

• Encourage independence, confidence, resilience and positive social interaction

• Work closely with teachers, pastoral staff and other professionals

• Provide a calm, consistent presence during difficult or dysregulated moments

• Celebrate progress, recognising that success can look different for every pupil

• Maintain high standards of safeguarding and pupil welfare

Who Are We Looking For?

We are looking for a Teaching Assistant who is calm, confident, patient and resilient. Previous experience within an SEMH, SEND, PRU, alternative provision or specialist school would be highly desirable.

We would also love to hear from candidates with transferable experience as a:

SEN Teaching Assistant | Youth Worker | Support Worker | Care Worker | Behaviour Mentor | Learning Mentor | Residential Support Worker | Sports Coach

Experience supporting young people with SEMH, autism, ADHD, attachment difficulties, emotional regulation needs or challenging behaviour would be particularly valuable.

Most importantly, you will need to be someone who can look beyond behaviour, understand the needs behind it and remain consistent when a young person needs support the most.

Why This Role?

This isn’t simply another Teaching Assistant position. You will have the opportunity to work in a specialist environment where relationships, wellbeing and personalised support are fundamental to helping pupils succeed.

The wider academy promotes ongoing training, mentoring and CPD for staff, helping those working with pupils develop their skills and provide stronger educational and social support.

If you’re looking for a Teaching Assistant role in Haywards Heath where your patience, personality and ability to connect with young people will genuinely matter, we would love to hear from you.

Why Work Through SENDhelp?

• Dedicated support from an experienced SEND recruitment consultant

• Opportunities within specialist SEND and SEMH settings

• Competitive rates of pay

• Access to long-term and permanent opportunities

• Support throughout the recruitment and placement process

• A team that understands specialist education and matches candidates to environments where they can succeed

Apply Today

If you’re an experienced Teaching Assistant or have transferable experience supporting children or young people and are looking for your next opportunity in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and take the next step towards a rewarding Teaching Assistant role where you can help a young person re-engage with education, build confidence and achieve their potential.