At a Glance
- Tasks: Support pupils with SEMH needs, helping them feel safe and ready to learn.
- Company: Protocol Education, dedicated to making a difference in education.
- Benefits: Weekly pay, free training, flexible opportunities, and dedicated support.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young lives and celebrate small wins every day.
- Qualifications: Empathy, patience, and experience in educational support roles.
The predicted salary is between 23400 - 29910 £ per year.
Location: Leeds
Pay: £90–£115 per 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.
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. Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.
SEMH Teaching Assistant in Leeds employer: Protocol Education Ltd
At Protocol Education, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of young people with SEMH needs. Our supportive work culture fosters empathy and collaboration, providing employees with ongoing professional development opportunities and dedicated consultant support. Located in Leeds, we offer flexible roles across both specialist and mainstream settings, ensuring that every small win in education is celebrated and valued.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SEMH Teaching Assistant in Leeds
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Protocol Education Ltd.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Protocol Education Ltd!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Protocol Education Ltd, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Protocol Education Ltd or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace SEMH Teaching Assistant in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Protocol Education Ltd:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Protocol Education Ltd! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Protocol Education Ltd
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
