Location: Colchester, Essex
Start Date: September 2026
Salary: £100 - £120 per day (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full-Time | Long-Term to Permanent

Are you passionate about supporting children who need it most?

TeacherActive is proud to be working with a specialist SEMH school in Colchester that is looking to recruit a resilient, compassionate and proactive SEMH Teaching Assistant to join their dedicated team from September 2026.

This specialist setting supports pupils who have experienced significant barriers to education due to Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, trauma and adverse childhood experiences. With small class sizes, a therapeutic approach to education and a strong emphasis on relationship-building, this is an incredibly rewarding opportunity to make a genuine difference in the lives of young people.

The Role:

As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide 1:1 and small group support for pupils with SEMH needs.
• Build positive, trusting relationships that help pupils feel safe, valued and ready to learn.
• Support pupils with emotional regulation using restorative and trauma-informed approaches.
• Work alongside teachers to deliver engaging, personalised learning activities.
• Encourage positive behaviour through consistency, patience and clear boundaries.
• Support pupils both inside and outside the classroom, including during intervention sessions and enrichment activities.
• Help create a calm, structured and nurturing learning environment.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and pastoral teams to achieve the best outcomes for every pupil.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, Autism, ADHD or challenging behaviour.
• A calm, resilient and empathetic approach.
• The ability to remain patient under pressure and build strong relationships.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• A genuine passion for supporting vulnerable children to succeed.
• Experience in education, residential care, youth work, mentoring or support work is highly desirable.

In Return, TeacherActive Offers:

• Competitive rates of pay.
• A dedicated consultant to support you throughout your placement.
• Access to free CPD and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible payment options.
• The opportunity to secure a long-term or permanent role within a highly supportive specialist setting.

If you're looking for a rewarding opportunity where every day brings the chance to change a young person's future, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today or contact Bugsy Barclay on 01245 335 533 or email bugsy.barclay@teacheractive.com for more information.

All applicants will be contacted to discuss suitability and will be subject to the appropriate safeguarding and compliance checks in line with TeacherActive's safer recruitment procedures.