SEMH Teaching Assistant
Location: Leeds
Pay: £90–£1159per day
Job Type: Full-time | Long-term
Start Date: Immediate / September 2025
Not every win in education comes with applause.
Sometimes, it looks like a pupil walking into class without anxiety.
Sometimes, it’s a full morning without disruption.
Sometimes, it’s eye contact, trust, or the first genuine smile in weeks.
If those wins matter to you, keep reading.
Protocol Education is recruiting for an SEMH Teaching Assistant to support pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs in specialist schools and alternative provisions across Leeds.
This role isn’t always easy. SEMH support comes with brilliant highs and tough days too.
There will be moments where progress feels slow. Days where emotions run high. Times when patience gets tested.
But then come the breakthroughs.
The small wins that become big milestones.
The moments that remind you exactly why this work matters.
Your Role
As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you’ll support children and young people with a range of additional needs, including:
- SEMH
- Autism
- ADHD
- Behavioural needs
- Trauma-related challenges
You’ll help pupils feel safe, supported, and ready to learn by:
- Providing 1:1 and small group support
- Building trust and positive relationships
- Supporting emotional regulation
- Using positive behaviour strategies and de-escalation techniques
- Creating a calm and consistent environment
- Working closely with teachers, SENCOs, and pastoral teams
What We’re Looking For
We’re searching for people who bring empathy, patience, and consistency.
You might have experience as a:
- Teaching Assistant
- Behaviour Mentor
- Youth Worker
- Learning Support Assistant
- Support Worker
- Learning Mentor
Experience in SEMH schools, PRUs, alternative provisions, SEND settings, or mainstream schools is highly desirable.
What matters most?
You stay calm under pressure.
You build trust.
You genuinely care.
Why Join Protocol Education?
- Weekly PAYE pay
- No umbrella company deductions
- FREE access to CPD and training
- Dedicated consultant support
- Roles across Leeds in specialist and mainstream settings
- Flexible short and long-term opportunities
At Protocol Education, we understand SEMH work because we see the impact every day.
This role is about more than behaviour support.
It’s about helping young people feel safe enough to succeed.
And sometimes success starts with something small.
A good morning.
A settled lesson.
A better day than yesterday.
Those small wins? They matter more than you think.
If you’re ready to make a real difference as an SEMH Teaching Assistant in Leeds, apply today.
All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see Protocol Education’s website for full safeguarding and DBS requirements.