SEMH Teaching Assistant in Keighley

Location: Holycroft Primary School, Keighley, UK

Salary: Grade C/D SCP 3-6 £25,614 - £26,847 FTE (Actual Salary £16,208 - £16,988)

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Education Phases: Primary

Job Roles: Teaching Assistant

Working Patterns: Part-Time

Application Deadline: Friday, 2nd October 2026

Interview Date: TBC

Expected Working Start Date: TBC

Visa Sponsorship Available: No

Is a Shared Job: No

About us

Holycroft Primary School is part of the Northern Star Academies Trust. The school is situated in the centre of Keighley and works very closely with its community. Children are central to everything we do and staff, parents, and the wider community work together to ensure the highest quality provision for all our pupils. Northern Star Academies Trust is a thriving family of 15 schools, serving the communities of Keighley, Bradford, Skipton, and Harrogate. Our vision is rooted in our core values: Nurture, Sustain, Aspire, and Thrive. Together, we work tirelessly to create environments where children and staff alike can flourish.

How to Apply

To apply to work with Northern Star Academies Trust, please complete your candidate profile via the Every Portal. If you are accessing our Every portal for the first time, you will need to register to add and save your candidate profile information, before adding your profile to this vacancy.

Job Description

Hours of Work - 28 hours per week: Term time only Monday - Friday 8:45am - 3:00pm (Actual Salary £16,208 - £16,988) - Fixed term contact until August 2027, due to being linked to a specific child.

We are looking for a caring, patient and resilient SEMH Teaching Assistant to join our dedicated team and provide individualised support to a pupil in Year 6. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who understands that children’s behaviour is often a form of communication and who can build a trusting, positive relationship with a child who may experience difficulties with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH).

The successful candidate will work closely with the class teacher, SENCO and wider school team to support the pupil to feel safe, valued and ready to learn, whilst helping them to develop greater independence, confidence and emotional regulation.

The role will include:

• Providing 1:1 support for a Year 6 pupil throughout the school day.
• Building a positive, trusting and consistent relationship with the pupil.
• Supporting the pupil to manage emotions, regulate their behaviour and develop appropriate strategies for coping with challenges.
• Encouraging engagement in learning and helping the pupil to access the curriculum.
• Supporting positive behaviour and following agreed strategies and individual plans.
• Helping the pupil develop their social skills, confidence and independence.
• Working closely with the class teacher, SENCO and other professionals to ensure consistency of support.
• Supporting the pupil during less structured times, such as break and lunchtime, where appropriate.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is calm, patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Has experience of, or a strong interest in, supporting children with SEMH needs.
• Can establish positive relationships whilst maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
• Understands the importance of consistency, routine and positive reinforcement.
• Is able to remain calm and professional when faced with challenging situations.
• Has high expectations of children and believes passionately in their ability to succeed.
• Can work effectively as part of a team and communicate well with colleagues and families.
• Is enthusiastic, reliable and committed to supporting the whole child.

Experience of working with children with SEMH needs is desirable, but we would also welcome applications from individuals who have the right qualities, attitude and commitment and are keen to develop their skills.

What we can offer:

• A welcoming and supportive school environment.
• A dedicated and committed staff team.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to a child’s life and educational experience.
• Support and professional development to help you grow in your role.
• A rewarding opportunity to develop your experience in supporting children with additional needs.

If you are someone who can see beyond the behaviour, build meaningful relationships and help a child recognise their own strengths and potential, we would love to hear from you.

For more information and to check you meet the essential requirements, please download the Job Description and Person Specification.

If you have any queries, please contact us at recruitment@nsat.org.uk

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020)) provides that when applying for certain jobs, certain spent convictions and cautions are protected and they do not need to be disclosed to employers. If they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website and further information about filtering offences can be found in DBS filtering guide.

Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Excellent CPD opportunities
• Maternity, Shared Parental, Paternity, and Adoption pay.
• A huge range of discounts to help you save money across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers through our lifestyle benefits provider Vivup.