SEMH Specialist
Sometimes the Most Important Thing a Child Needs Is Someone Who Won't Give Up on Them
Every behaviour tells a story.
For some children, school can feel overwhelming. Big emotions, anxiety, attachment difficulties, and past experiences can make learning harder than it should be. What makes the difference isn't always a new strategy or intervention. Sometimes it's a trusted adult who shows up every day with patience, consistency, and belief.
Protocol Education is working with a number of welcoming and inclusive primary schools across BS6 to recruit compassionate and resilient SEMH Learning Support Assistants to join their teams from November 2026.
If you're an experienced Teaching Assistant, Learning Support Assistant, SEND Practitioner, Support Worker, or someone with relevant experience supporting children and young people, this could be an opportunity to make a lasting difference.
The Role
You'll primarily support pupils across Key Stage 1, with opportunities to work in EYFS and Key Stage 2, providing both one-to-one and small group support for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils
- Supporting children to regulate emotions and engage with learning
- Delivering targeted interventions and structured support sessions
- Assisting with behaviour support plans and emotional wellbeing strategies
- Promoting positive behaviour using a calm and consistent approach
- Supporting learning in phonics, literacy, numeracy, and wider curriculum activities
- Creating predictable routines that help children feel safe and secure
- Working closely with teachers, SENDCOs, and pastoral teams
Success isn't always measured in academic milestones. Sometimes it's a child joining a lesson, managing a difficult emotion, or feeling confident enough to ask for help. Every step forward matters.
Why Work with Protocol Education?
At Protocol Education, we understand the vital role SEMH support staff play within schools.
✅ Competitive daily rates of £92-£96, paid weekly through PAYE
✅ Flexible work to suit your availability
✅ Opportunities in supportive local schools across BS6
✅ Dedicated consultants with SEND and SEMH expertise
✅ Free CPD and professional development opportunities
✅ Ongoing support and regular check-ins
✅ Easy-to-use booking and timesheet system
✅ £250 referral bonus when you recommend a friend
We take time to match you with schools where your skills are valued and where you can genuinely make an impact.
About You
We're looking for individuals who:
- Have experience supporting children in education, SEND, SEMH, youth work, care, or similar settings
- Are calm, patient, and able to remain positive during challenging situations
- Build strong and trusting relationships with young people
- Can adapt their approach to meet individual needs
- Have an understanding of SEMH, SEND, trauma-informed practice, or behaviour support
- Are passionate about helping children develop confidence, resilience, and self-belief
- Believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed
What We Need to Clear You
To get you registered and ready to start, we'll need:
- A valid passport or proof of your right to work in the UK
- Two proofs of address, such as a driving licence, utility bill, council tax statement, or P45/P60
- A CV covering the last 10 years of work and/or education history, with any gaps explained
- Two years of references, including childcare, care, or education references where applicable
- An overseas police check if you have lived abroad for 3 months or more within the last 5 years
Make a Real Difference
If you're someone who believes that patience builds trust, consistency creates confidence, and every child deserves an adult who sees their potential, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and let Protocol Education help you find a school where you can make a genuine difference to children's lives every single day.
What We Need to Clear You
- A valid passport or proof of your right to work in the UK
- Two proofs of address
- A CV covering the last 10 years of work or education, with any gaps explained
- An overseas police check if you have lived abroad for 3 months or more within the last 5 years
Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS and reference checks in line with safer recruitment practices.
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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