Teaching Assistant / Pastoral Support Worker (SEMH / SEN) - Secondary

Location: Crawley, West Sussex
Salary: £23,500 - £24,000 per annum (Term Time Only)
Contract: Full-Time, 12-Week Temp-to-Perm
Start Date: September 2026

Make a Lasting Difference

Some young people need more than academic support-they need someone who believes in them.

We're recruiting for a Teaching Assistant / Pastoral Support Worker to join a specialist secondary provision in Crawley, supporting students with SEMH, Autism (ASC), SEN and Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA). This is a unique opportunity to become a trusted adult for young people who have faced significant barriers to education, helping them rebuild confidence, develop resilience and re-engage with learning.

Working within a therapeutic, trauma-informed environment, you'll be part of a dedicated team where relationships, emotional wellbeing and personalised support are at the heart of everything they do.

The Role

As a Teaching Assistant / Pastoral Support Worker, you'll provide tailored emotional, pastoral and learning support to students who require additional guidance to succeed both in and beyond the classroom.

No two days are the same. You'll build positive relationships, encourage engagement, celebrate progress and help create an environment where every young person feels safe, understood and able to achieve success at their own pace.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 pastoral, emotional and learning support to students
• Support young people with SEMH, SEN, Autism (ASC) and EBSA
• Help students re-engage with education through personalised support strategies
• Promote emotional regulation, resilience, confidence and independence
• Support attendance, wellbeing and positive engagement with learning
• Assist students with classroom activities, independent study and online learning where appropriate
• Build positive, consistent relationships that promote trust and stability
• Monitor progress, wellbeing and engagement, celebrating individual achievements
• Contribute to EHCP reviews and personalised support plans
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists, SEN staff, parents and external professionals
• Support transitions back into classroom-based learning where appropriate
• Assist with enrichment activities, educational visits and wider school life

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting secondary-aged young people with SEMH, SEN, Autism or EBSA
• Has worked as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, Behaviour Mentor, Pastoral Worker, Youth Worker, Support Worker or within Alternative Provision
• Understands, or is keen to develop, trauma-informed and relationship-led practice
• Is calm, patient, empathetic and emotionally resilient
• Can build positive relationships with young people who may have become disengaged from education
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable students
• Communicates effectively and enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Why Join This School?

• Term-time only position, offering an excellent work-life balance
• Temp-to-perm opportunity with long-term career prospects
• Therapeutic, trauma-informed working environment
• Supportive and forward-thinking leadership team
• Ongoing CPD, specialist SEN training and career development opportunities
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced therapists, SEN professionals and education specialists
• A genuinely rewarding role where you will make a lasting difference to the lives of young people
• Excellent experience for careers in education, psychology, counselling, youth work, social care or therapy

Apply Now

If you're passionate about helping young people overcome barriers to education and want to be part of a supportive, relationship-led school community, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today to be considered for this rewarding Teaching Assistant / Pastoral Support Worker opportunity in Crawley.

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