SEN Teaching Assistant


Company:	senploy
Salary:	£16 to £16 an hour
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	NORTHAMPTON
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	23 Sept 2026
Closing date:	19 Oct 2026

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Summary

Working with young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs requires a different kind of Teaching Assistant.

You'll support pupils who may find mainstream education difficult. Some may struggle with emotional regulation, trust, relationships or engagement with learning. Others may have additional SEND, experienced disruption to their education or be working towards successfully returning to a mainstream setting.

Their behaviour can sometimes be challenging.

Your job is to look beyond it.

We're recruiting Teaching Assistants for specialist schools and alternative provisions across Northampton, with opportunities ranging from flexible assignments through to longer-term placements.

Before some pupils can engage with maths, English or science, they need to feel safe, understood and able to trust the adults around them.

You'll work alongside teachers and specialist staff to provide that consistency while gradually helping pupils re-engage with education.

On any given day, you might be:

- Supporting a pupil one-to-one when the classroom feels overwhelming

- Helping a young person regulate their emotions and return to learning

- Working with a small group on a targeted activity

- Reinforcing boundaries calmly and consistently

- Supporting lessons and adapting activities for different needs

- Encouraging communication, confidence and independence

- Recognising triggers and helping prevent situations from escalating

- Providing pastoral support alongside academic learning

- Celebrating progress that might look small on paper but represents a significant achievement for that young person

Many of the settings have smaller class sizes, creating more opportunity to understand individual pupils and provide meaningful support.

Experience matters, but so does temperament.

You need to be calm when somebody else isn't.

You'll need patience, resilience and the ability not to take challenging behaviour personally. You'll also need to establish clear boundaries while continuing to show pupils that tomorrow is a fresh start.

Previous experience could come from education, SEND, alternative provision, youth work, mentoring, care or another setting supporting children and young people.

You'll also need:

- Experience working with children or young people

- An understanding of SEMH and/or SEND

- GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or equivalent

- Strong communication and teamwork skills

- A commitment to safeguarding and inclusive practice

- The ability to motivate young people who may have become disengaged from education

Not everybody is looking for the same thing.

You may want regular long-term work and the opportunity to become part of one setting. You might prefer shorter assignments, or you may simply want greater flexibility around when you work.

We're interested in hearing from candidates looking for short-term, long-term and flexible SEMH/SEND opportunities across Northampton.

Pay ranges from £14-£16 per hour, depending on experience.

You'll also have access to training and professional development, support from an experienced education recruitment team and opportunities that may lead to permanent employment.

Together with the education settings we support, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced DBS check and satisfactory professional references.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Please note that sponsorship is not available for these opportunities.

If you understand that progress with SEMH isn't always a straight line - and you're someone who can remain patient, positive and consistent along the way - we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today to register your interest in SEMH and SEND Teaching Assistant opportunities across Northampton.

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