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Job Title: SEN Teaching Assistant - Specialist SEMH School (Stoke-on-Trent)
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Contract Type: Full-Time / Long-Term - Temp to Perm
Start Date: September 2025
Pay: Competitive, based on experience and qualifications
Are you a passionate, resilient, and physically fit individual with experience supporting children and young people with complex needs? Do you thrive in a challenging yet highly rewarding environment?
Aspire are recruiting on behalf of a highly specialised SEMH school in Stoke-on-Trent, dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people aged 7-16 with a range of additional needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges, Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC), trauma-related behaviours, anxiety, and behavioural difficulties.
This is a highly rewarding role in a supportive and structured setting, where every day presents an opportunity to make a significant difference in a child's life.
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The Role:
As a Teaching Assistant in this specialist provision, you will:
* Provide 1:1 and small-group support to students with high levels of emotional and behavioural need.
* Build strong, trusting relationships with pupils who may have experienced trauma or disrupted attachments.
* Support students to access learning, manage their emotions, and engage positively with school routines.
* Work closely with class teachers, behaviour mentors, and therapists to implement individual behaviour and support plans.
* Contribute to a safe, structured, and nurturing learning environment for all pupils.
* Participate in physical intervention and de-escalation strategies when necessary, always following the school's training and policy guidelines.
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Key Requirements:
* Experience supporting children or young people with SEMH, autism, or complex behavioural needs (in a school, residential, youth work, or care setting).
* Physically fit and comfortable with the demands of a high-energy, active environment.
* Confident and competent in using (or willing to train in) physical intervention strategies (e.g., Team Teach, MAPA, PRICE, or equivalent).
* Strong interpersonal skills, patience, empathy, and emotional resilience.
* A trauma-informed, non-judgemental approach to behaviour and communication.
* Ability to follow detailed behaviour support plans and risk assessments.
* A commitment to safeguarding, well-being, and inclusion for all students.
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Desirable (but not essential):
* Relevant qualifications in education, child development, or mental health (e.g., CACHE, NVQ, Psychology degree). (preferable)
* Previous experience in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), SEMH school, or similar setting.
* Training in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), attachment theory, or trauma-informed practice.
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What We Offer:
* A long-term opportunity with the potential for a permanent position.
* Access to ongoing training and professional development.
* A supportive and experienced leadership team.
* The opportunity to make a real impact in the lives of vulnerable young people.
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How to Apply:
If you're ready for a role that challenges, you daily-but rewards you even more-we'd love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a brief covering statement detailing your relevant experience.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references in line with safeguarding guidelines.

Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks