Job description
Require an SEMH Teaching Assistant in Dorchester!
SEMH Teaching Assistant
Location: Dorchester
Salary: £13.68 - £16.12 per hour (Depending on experience)
Start Date: Immediate or September 2025
Contract Type: Full-time / Permanent
Are you passionate about supporting children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs?
GSL Education are seeking a committed and understanding SEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA) to join a specialist alternative provision school in Dorchester. This role is ideal for someone who wants to help learners rebuild confidence, develop resilience, and find success through alternative educational approaches. In this role, you will support students who have struggled in mainstream settings, using behaviour support strategies and relationship-focused mentoring to help them access education in a way that works for them.
The School:
The school encompasses two sites in Dorchester with one common shared purpose: to provide the very best in education and support for all children who (for a variety of reasons) find themselves outside of mainstream school education. The school is an alternative provision that uses vocational and extracurricular methods to enable the students to gain functional and life skills. With a primary and secondary division, the school is inclusive of all ages and abilities and strives to give its pupils the best possible opportunities for post-16 life.
What we need from an SEMH Teaching Assistant (SEMH TA):
- Provide one-to-one and small group support for pupils with SEMH needs.
- Help implement behaviour support plans and emotional regulation strategies.
- Foster positive relationships to improve students’ self-esteem and engagement.
- Assist with personalised learning and vocational activities.
- Support students in managing their emotions and behaviours throughout the school day.
- Work closely with teachers, pastoral staff, and families to ensure progress.
SEMH Teaching Assistant Qualifications:
- Experience supporting young people with SEMH, challenging behaviour, or within alternative provision.
- CACHE Level 2/3, NVQ Level 2/3 in Teaching Assistance, Youth Work, or Health & Social Care is desirable.
- A degree in Psychology, Counselling or a similar field is desirable but not essential
- A calm, empathetic, and resilient approach to behaviour management.
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- Sound knowledge of safeguarding and promoting student wellbeing.
Why choose GSL Education:
- Competitive pay rates and rewarding long-term placements.
- Personalised support from knowledgeable consultants.
- Access to free CPD and training opportunities.
- Ethical and professional recruitment service.
To thrive in the SEMH Teaching Assistant role, you should:
- Have the right to work in the UK.
- Have an up-to-date CV with two relevant references from the last two years.
- Possess an enhanced DBS registered to the update service or be willing to apply for one through GSL Education.
Please be advised that this role requires a strong knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and child protection, and successful applicants must satisfy all background safer recruitment checks, including providing an enhanced DBS certificate registered on the update service or completing an application for a new check.
As an ethical, independent recruitment agency, GSL Education are committed to providing quality teaching and support staff across the UK.
For more information or to register your interest in the SEMH Teaching Assistant role, or to be considered, please click ‘apply now’ to submit your full and up-to-date CV, and one of our dedicated consultants will be in touch.
Be the support system a student needs to thrive – don’t miss out!