We're Hiring: Teaching Assistant - URGENT/ Immediate start in Oxford

Are you passionate about helping children feel supported, understood, and confident at school? Would you like to gain practical experience in education, mental health, psychology, or therapeutic support while making a positive difference to children's everyday lives?

A specialist school in Chippenham, Wiltshire is seeking a caring and enthusiastic Mental Health Teaching Assistant to join its dedicated support team. The school works with children aged 5-16 who may have Autism, Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, and additional learning requirements.

This role provides an excellent opportunity to work alongside teachers, SEN professionals, therapists, and other specialist staff while developing your understanding of the connection between children's emotional wellbeing and their ability to engage with education.

As a Mental Health Teaching Assistant, you will provide personalised support to children who may experience challenges with their emotions, behaviour, confidence, relationships, or engagement with learning. Your responsibilities will include:

• Building trusting relationships and helping children develop practical strategies that enable them to manage difficult situations more positively.
• Providing one-to-one and small-group support tailored to individual children's needs.
• Helping children recognise, understand, and communicate their emotions.
• Supporting children experiencing anxiety, low confidence, emotional dysregulation, or social difficulties.
• Helping children develop appropriate strategies for managing stress and challenging situations.
• Encouraging children to return to learning following periods of anxiety, distress, or disengagement.
• Developing children's communication, social skills, confidence, and independence.
• Working closely with teachers and SEN staff to follow individual support strategies.

The ideal candidate will be compassionate, patient, reliable, and emotionally resilient, with a genuine interest in children's mental health and wellbeing. You should be comfortable building professional relationships with children and able to remain calm and consistent when situations become challenging. Previous experience within education, childcare, mental health, SEND, youth work, care, or support work would be advantageous. However, this position could also be an excellent opportunity for graduates and aspiring professionals looking to gain relevant experience before pursuing further study or training.

This role offers a salary of £85-£110 per day, depending on experience, and is a full-time, Monday to Friday position. You will receive PAYE weekly pay and gain practical experience supporting children's mental health and emotional wellbeing within education. This is an opportunity to learn from experienced teachers, therapists, SEN professionals, and support staff, and to develop valuable skills for future careers in psychology, education, therapy, and mental health services.

Apply today to begin developing your experience in education and mental health support while helping children build confidence, resilience, and the skills they need to thrive.