SEMH Teaching Assistant

Salary/Rate:£95 PAYE per day
Job type:Contract
Town/City:Richmond
County:South West London
Type of Role:Teaching Assistant/Learning Support Assistant
Job ref:10151
Post Date:23.07.25
Scroll

Meet Our Recruiter

About the Role

SEMH Teaching Assistant – Secondary School

Twickenham, Richmond | September 2025 Start | £95 per day - PAYE only | Full-time, Term-Time Only | Temp to Permanent

Are you someone who truly understands what it means to support a young person in crisis – not just with their learning, but with life?

We’re looking for a confident and experienced SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a specialist school that supports pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs (SEMH), often alongside Autism and ADHD. These young people have experienced more than their fair share of challenges and need consistent, emotionally intelligent adults around them who don’t give up when things get tough.

You must have previous experience working in a school environment supporting children with SEMH. This role isn’t for the faint-hearted, but for someone with the right instincts; the impact is enormous.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Supporting secondary-aged pupils on a 1:1 and small group basis, both in and out of the classroom
  • Helping young people regulate, reflect and reconnect with learning
  • Using trauma-informed, therapeutic and restorative approaches to build trust and model calm
  • Working closely with teaching staff, mentors and therapists to follow personalised plans
  • Being a key adult whom pupils can rely on, especially when they’re at their most dysregulated

Who we’re looking for:

  • Someone with previous school-based experience supporting children or young people with SEMH, Autism, and ADHD
  • A steady, emotionally resilient personality
  • Some who have patience
  • Someone comfortable with challenging behaviour, conflict, and big emotions
  • A genuine passion for helping young people rewrite their stories

This is a full-time role, Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm, starting in September. It’s temp-to-perm, so there’s real potential for a permanent position if it fits both sides.

If you are interested in this SEMH Teaching Assistant position, please apply now or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.

More jobs from this recruiter

View All

SEN Teaching Assistant

Kingston
South West London
£90 - £95 PAYE
SEN Teaching Assistant – Kingston Upon Thames Full-Time | Term-Time Only | £90–£95 per day | PAYE only ASAP Start There are schools… and then there are places where you walk in and immediately feel like this is what education should be. This specialist setting in Kingston supports children and young people with Autism, profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), SLD, and complex medical needs. But the story here isn’t about what the children can’t do. It’s about what they’re learning to do daily, with the right support. And that’s where you come in. The Role You’ll be working in a small class (never more than 8 pupils), supported by a strong team of teaching assistants and an inspiring teacher who will guide you. These children may be non-verbal, use wheelchairs, or have behaviours that challenge, but they also laugh, communicate in their own way, and flourish in the right environment. You’ll support students with everything from sensory integration and communication to personal care and hydrotherapy sessions. One day might involve messy play and sensory stories, the next might be quiet and calm. No two days are the same, and that’s what makes it extraordinary. Is This You? You’re patient, kind, and calm, especially when things don’t go to plan You have experience with SEN or personal exposure to children with additional needs You’re open to supporting with personal care (training provided) and hydrotherapy sessions You understand that behaviours are communication You’re available full-time during term time (8:30am–4:00pm) This could be ideal for aspiring speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, or educational psychologists. Or maybe you're just someone who’s realised that supporting children with complex needs is what you’re meant to do. What You’ll Get: Weekly pay via PAYE – we don’t use umbrella companies Unmatched on-the-job training, CPD, and long-term career opportunities An incredibly supportive team and senior leadership who genuinely care The chance to be part of something truly life-changing, every single day If you're looking for a role that challenges you, inspires you, and gives back more than it takes, this is it. Apply now to speak to Heeji at Parker Smith Inclusion. We’re ethical SEN recruitment specialists, and we are here to guide you every step of the way.

Primary Autism Specialist Teacher

Ealing
North West London
£50,000 - £55,000 depending on experience
Primary Autism Specialist Teacher Ealing, West London £50,000 – £55,000 per annum Full-time (term time only) End of January 2026 start Interviews ASAP There are some roles where you instinctively know the real work happens long before the classroom doors open. This is one of them. A specialist service in West London is looking for an experienced Primary Autism Specialist Teacher to support a small group of primary-aged pupils as they prepare to transition into a new, highly individualised learning environment. These pupils have a range of Autism profiles, including verbal, pre-verbal, and non-verbal presentations, as well as more complex presentations. They will rely heavily on consistent relationships, calm communication, and careful planning as they transition into their new setting. Your work will start in the community, not the classroom: home visits, transition sessions, and building enough trust that September feels safe rather than overwhelming. If you are grounded, flexible, and genuinely motivated by long-term, relational work with autistic pupils, this could be a career-defining role. The Structure You will work within a therapeutic, collaborative model: 1 Specialist Teacher & 3 Teaching Assistants A friendly and supportive team, mirroring an outreach-style approach where modelling, shared practice, and consistency matter more than hierarchy. Everyone leads from the front. Everyone supports each other. Some personal or intimate care may be required on an occasional basis. Pupils’ needs come first, and the team works together to ensure this is handled with dignity and care. What You Will Be Doing No two days look the same, but your work may include: Visiting pupils in their homes during the first 2 months of the transition period Supporting autistic pupils who are verbal, pre-verbal, non-verbal, or have complex communication needs Working closely with one particularly complex pupil who may attach to you Leading and modelling practice for your support team Planning and shaping routines, sensory approaches, and learning structures Embedding therapeutic, low-arousal practice in every part of the day This is a role for someone who is energised by the process of building something, not just maintaining it. Who This Role Suits You will thrive here if you are: Must have QTS or QTLS Confident and experienced in working with autistic pupils across the communication spectrum Comfortable responding to dysregulation, anxiety, and behaviours that can initially present as antisocial Flexible enough to manage home visits, transitions, and varied locations Resilient, reflective, and steady when the day shifts unexpectedly Interested in shaping a new team and structure rather than stepping into something pre-built Open to leadership with middle-lead pathways available from next September Experience in Primary SEND settings is highly beneficial. If you are interested in this Autism Specialist Teacher position, apply now or contact Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion.

Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant

Ealing
North West London
£90 - £95 PAYE per day
Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant Specialist SEND School in Ealing, North West London £90 – £95 per day (PAYE) Full-time, Long-term to Permanent Contract, ASAP start If you’re a Psychology graduate looking for proper, hands-on SEND experience, the kind that actually prepares you for Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, therapy pathways, or long-term SEND careers, this is exactly the sort of environment that will move you forward. This specialist school supports children with complex Autism, significant learning needs, physical disabilities, and sensory differences. Many pupils use alternative communication systems and need a consistent, calm, emotionally attuned adult around them. If you’ve ever supported a child or young person with additional needs (personally or professionally), you’ll know why the right environment matters so much. This isn’t an easy role. But when you get it right, you see progress that stays with you. Why this role stands out You’re not stepping into a chaotic mainstream classroom. You’re joining a specialist setting where the adults are steady, the expectations are clear, and pupils are supported by a team that includes teachers, therapists, and experienced learning support staff. You’ll develop a level of understanding around Autism, physical disabilities, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and communication that you simply can’t learn from a textbook. Your day-to-day responsibilities Supporting pupils with Autism, physical disabilities, learning differences, and sensory needs Helping pupils regulate emotions and stay calm during moments of dysregulation Assisting with personal care, mobility, and daily routines Working 1:1 or in small, specialist classrooms Using your Psychology foundation to understand behaviour, triggers, and communication Creating consistency, predictability, and secure relationships Being part of a multi-disciplinary team that genuinely cares No two days look the same, but the purpose behind the work stays steady. Who thrives here Psychology graduates preparing for EP, Clinical, or therapeutic careers Health Care Assistants wanting to transition into SEND education People with personal experience of Autism, disabilities, or neurodiversity Individuals who are calm, emotionally intelligent, and reflective Those who want meaningful, long-term SEND experience, not a stop-gap job If you’re looking for an easy ride, it won’t be for you. If you want to make an impact, foster connections, and receive proper professional development, you’ll fit in well. Requirements A Psychology degree (or similar discipline) Personal or professional SEN, disability, or care experience Comfortable with personal care and mobility support Able to commit Monday–Friday, full-time Emotionally resilient, patient, and grounded Willing to learn, adapt, and work as part of a supportive team Pay, contract, and our approach £90 – £95 per day (PAYE) No umbrella companies Long-term role with potential to go permanent Transparent and ethical ways of working Location Ealing in North West London is accessible from Harrow, Ealing, Wembley, Brent, Greenford, and surrounding areas. If you’re a Psychology graduate or HCA with a genuine interest in SEND, and you want a role that feels meaningful, challenging, and professionally valuable, I’d be happy to speak with you. Apply now or get in touch with Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion to find out more.

Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant

Kingston
South West London
£90 - £95 PAYE per day
Psychology Graduate SEN Teaching Assistant Specialist Autism / ASC & Complex Needs School, Kingston Upon Thames £90 – £95 per day (PAYE) Full-time, Long-term to permanent contract, ASAP start Some roles genuinely shape your career, and this is one of them. If you're a Psychology graduate who wants real, meaningful experience with autistic children and young people, you’ll gain more here in one year than you will in five generic classroom roles. This specialist school supports pupils with Autism, significant learning needs, sensory differences, and communication challenges. It’s calm, structured, and nurturing, the kind of environment where pupils thrive when the adults around them bring patience, curiosity, and consistency. If you have personal SEN experience, time spent as an HCA, or you’ve supported a sibling or family member with additional needs, you’ll understand exactly why this work matters. Why is this role so valuable? You won’t be thrown in at the deep end. You’ll work as part of a skilled, caring team where adults are calm, boundaries are clear, and pupils are supported through genuinely thoughtful practice. You’ll learn about Autism, sensory regulation, communication strategies, behaviour as communication, and trauma-informed approaches, all of which are gold dust for future careers in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, OT, SaLT, or SEN teaching. Most importantly, you’ll see firsthand how small steps translate into life-changing progress. What your days will look like Supporting autistic pupils with communication, sensory needs, and emotional regulation Helping to create predictable routines and low-arousal learning environments Working 1:1 or within a small, specialist class team Assisting with personal care and practical daily tasks Using your Psychology insight to understand behaviour, triggers, and engagement Working alongside teachers, therapists, and support staff Celebrating each small win, because they matter This isn’t always easy, but it is deeply rewarding when you’re the right person for it. Who would thrive here Psychology graduates who genuinely want specialist SEND experience HCAs with experience supporting children or adults with disabilities People with personal experience of Autism or neurodiversity Calm, thoughtful, emotionally intelligent individuals Those who value consistency, relationship-building, and patient progress If you want to build a meaningful career in SEND, this environment will move you forward quickly and confidently. Requirements Psychology degree (or closely related subject) Personal or professional SEN experience Comfortable with personal care Full-time availability (Monday–Friday) Resilience, warmth, and a genuine interest in SEND A collaborative approach and willingness to learn Pay, contract, and our promise £90 – £95 per day (PAYE) No umbrella companies Ethical and transparent ways of working Ongoing CPD and long-term career support Location Kingston Upon Thames is easily reached from Surbiton, Chessington, Tolworth, New Malden, Epsom, Richmond, and surrounding areas. If you’re a Psychology graduate or HCA ready for a role that actually develops your career, not just fills your time, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now or get in touch with Heeji Moon at Parker Smith Inclusion to discuss this further.