SEMH Teaching Assistant

SEMH Teaching Assistant / Behaviour Support Specialist
Location: Croydon
Start Date: September 2026
Full-Time Monday - Friday
All-age setting: supporting children aged 4-16 years
Pay rate: £95 - £105 per day

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people who need it most in Croydon?
We are an SEMH/EBD specialist SEN school in Croydon seeking resilient, empathetic, and committed individuals to join our team. This role is ideal for people who understand the realities many of our students face and can build strong, trusting relationships that support positive change.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:
Mentoring or youth work
Counselling or therapeutic support
Supporting children with challenging behaviour
Working with Looked After Children (LAC)
Supporting young people vulnerable to gang involvement or exploitation
Working with children affected by drug-related environments or poverty
Trauma-informed practice and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Behaviour support or intervention roles
Community outreach or support intervention programmes
Sports coaching or activity-based youth engagement

This role suits individuals who bring real-world understanding, patience, and consistency. Many of our students in Croydon have experienced disruption, instability, or trauma, and need adults who can provide structure, boundaries, and genuine care.

What we're looking for:
Strong relationship-building skills
Calm, confident approach to behaviour management
Ability to engage and motivate hard-to-reach young people
A team player with a proactive mindset
Urban-minded individuals who can relate to the backgrounds of our students

What you'll be doing:
Supporting students with SEMH needs in and out of the classroom
Managing and de-escalating challenging behaviour
Acting as a positive role model and mentor
Delivering targeted interventions and support strategies
Working closely with teaching staff and external professionals

This is more than a job - it's an opportunity to positively impact lives and help young people in Croydon re-engage with education and their futures.
If you have the experience, resilience, and drive to support vulnerable young people in an urban SEMH setting in Croydon, we want to hear from you.