Primary SEMH Teaching Assistant - Specialist School

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

Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle essential.

Are you passionate about helping children build confidence, resilience and positive relationships with learning?

Do you have experience working with children who have SEMH, challenging behaviour, Autism or additional needs?

NextGen Teachers are recruiting for a specialist primary SEMH school in Horsham seeking a Primary Teaching Assistant / SEMH Teaching Assistant / Learning Support Assistant to join its supportive and experienced team from September 2026.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to make a real difference to children who may have experienced barriers to education and need the right support, patience and encouragement to thrive.

About the Role

As a Primary SEMH Teaching Assistant, you'll work closely with teachers, therapists and pastoral staff to support pupils both in the classroom and on a 1:1 basis.

You'll help children to manage emotions, develop positive behaviour, build confidence and engage with learning, while creating a safe and nurturing environment where they can succeed.

You'll work in small classes with strong staff-to-pupil ratios, meaning you'll have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with pupils and provide genuinely personalised support.

Your Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1 and small-group support
• Supporting pupils with SEMH, Autism (ASC), ADHD, SEND and additional learning needs
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Helping pupils access literacy, numeracy and wider classroom learning
• Encouraging independence, confidence and communication
• Building positive and trusting relationships with pupils
• Supporting children to overcome barriers to learning
• Working alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral professionals
• Creating a calm, structured and engaging learning environment
• Promoting pupil wellbeing and following safeguarding procedures

Who We're Looking For

We're keen to hear from people with experience in education, care, healthcare, youth work or support settings.

Experience supporting SEMH, SEND, Autism, ADHD or challenging behaviour is desirable but isn't essential.

We're particularly interested in candidates who are:

• Calm, patient and resilient
• Confident managing challenging behaviour
• Compassionate and understanding
• Strong communicators
• Able to build positive relationships with children
• Passionate about supporting children's emotional wellbeing
• Motivated to develop a career within specialist education

Transferable experience is welcomed. If you've supported children or young people in a care, residential, healthcare, youth work or similar setting, we'd be keen to speak with you.

What You'll Get

• £27,122 per annum, paid over 12 months
• Full-time position
• Genuine temp-to-permanent opportunity
• September 2026 start
• Small class sizes
• Excellent staff-to-pupil ratios
• Supportive leadership and experienced staff
• Ongoing CPD and specialist SEMH/SEND training
• Opportunity to work alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral professionals
• Valuable experience within specialist education
• Excellent progression opportunities

This role would also be ideal for anyone considering a future career in teaching, educational psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, counselling, youth work or children's mental health support.

Important Information

Due to the school's rural location, a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this position.

Why Work with NextGen Teachers?

NextGen Teachers specialise in education recruitment across West Sussex and Surrey. We'll support you throughout the recruitment process, help you prepare for interview and provide ongoing support once you're working in the school.

Apply Today

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can help children develop confidence, resilience and positive attitudes towards learning, apply today to be considered for this Primary SEMH Teaching Assistant position in Horsham.

For more information, contact NextGen Teachers today.

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.