SEND Teaching Assistant

Job Title: SEN Teaching Assistant – SEMH School
Location: Islington, North London
Salary: £90–£100 per day (PAYE, weekly pay)
Contract: Full-time, Long-term
Start Date: ASAP

Not every young person finds school easy. Some walk in carrying more than a backpack. That’s where you come in.

We’re working with a specialist SEMH school in Islington looking for a confident and compassionate SEN Teaching Assistant to support pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

This isn’t about standing at the back of a classroom. It’s about being the steady presence. The reset button. The adult who doesn’t give up.

• Supporting pupils 1:1 and in small nurture groups

• Helping students regulate emotions and manage behaviour positively

• Building strong, trusting relationships over time

• Working closely with teachers, pastoral teams, and external professionals

• Supporting learning in a structured, therapeutic environment

Progress here can look different. Sometimes it’s academic. Sometimes it’s a student choosing to stay in the room. Either way, it matters.

• Specialist SEMH provision with experienced leadership

• Clear behaviour policy that actually works

• Ongoing training and CPD opportunities

• Supportive team culture, no sink-or-swim mentality

You’ll be backed by people who understand how challenging, and how rewarding, this work can be.

• Have experience in SEMH, PRU, youth work, mentoring, or support roles

• Stay calm when situations escalates

• Understand that behaviour is communication

• Can balance firm boundaries with empathy

• Want to make a genuine difference in young people’s lives

This role suits someone resilient. Someone reflective. Someone who sees potential, even on tough days.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.

We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

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