Primary Teaching Assistant

Location: Horsham, West Sussex
Salary: £27,122 per annum (paid over 12 months)
Contract: Full-Time, Temp-to-Perm
Start Date: September 2026

Help Children Build Confidence, Resilience and a Love for Learning

Are you passionate about supporting children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs?

NextGen Teachers are recruiting on behalf of a specialist primary SEMH school in Horsham for a Primary SEMH Teaching Assistant / Learning Support Assistant to join their dedicated and supportive team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Teaching Assistants, Learning Support Assistants, Behaviour Mentors, Support Workers, Care Workers, Nursery Practitioners, Youth Workers, Healthcare Assistants, or anyone with experience supporting children who is looking to build a rewarding career within specialist education.

Working within small classes alongside experienced teachers, therapists and pastoral staff, you'll play a key role in helping children feel safe, develop emotional resilience, build confidence, and achieve their full potential.

Please note: Due to the rural location of the school, applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

The Role

As a Primary SEMH Teaching Assistant, you'll provide both classroom-based and 1:1 support, helping children overcome barriers to learning while supporting their emotional, social and academic development.

Using a nurturing, relationship-led approach, you'll help pupils regulate emotions, develop positive behaviours and successfully engage with school life.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
• Assisting children with SEMH, Autism (ASC), ADHD, SEND, and additional learning needs
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour strategies
• Helping pupils access literacy, numeracy and classroom learning
• Encouraging communication, confidence and independence
• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils and their families
• Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists and pastoral teams
• Creating a calm, safe and engaging learning environment
• Following safeguarding procedures and promoting children's wellbeing

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience as a Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, Behaviour Mentor, Support Worker, Care Worker, Nursery Practitioner, Youth Worker, Healthcare Assistant, or similar
• Experience supporting children with SEMH, SEND, Autism (ASC), ADHD, or additional needs (desirable)
• A calm, patient and resilient approach
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Confidence supporting behaviour and emotional wellbeing
• A genuine passion for helping children overcome barriers to learning
• The motivation to build a long-term career within specialist education

Why Join This School?

• £27,122 annual salary paid across 12 months
• Full-time opportunity with a genuine temp-to-permanent pathway
• Small class sizes with excellent staff-to-pupil ratios
• Supportive leadership team and experienced multidisciplinary staff
• Ongoing CPD and specialist SEMH and SEND training
• Work alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral professionals
• Excellent experience for careers in teaching, educational psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, youth work or mental health
• Make a genuine and lasting difference to children's confidence, wellbeing and future outcomes every day

Why Work with NextGen Teachers?

At NextGen Teachers, we specialise in placing education professionals into rewarding roles across West Sussex and Surrey. We'll support you throughout the recruitment process, provide interview guidance, and help you secure a role where you can develop your skills and build a long-term career.

Apply Today

If you're looking for a rewarding opportunity supporting primary-aged children with SEMH and additional needs, we'd love to hear from you.

Huntress does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, gender, disability, creed or sexual orientation and complies with all relevant UK legislation. PLEASE NOTE! You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to your situation before applying for any jobs. We are acting as a Recruitment Business in relation to this role.