Description
Teaching Assistant – Alternative Provision (SEMH Focus)
Location: Bristol (BS16)
Contract: Full-time, term-time only
Pay: From £14.25 per hour
Make a lasting impact on young people who need it most
Are you a compassionate and resilient Teaching Assistant passionate about supporting children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs? Do you thrive in a nurturing environment where you can help pupils rebuild confidence, develop emotional independence, and re-engage with learning?
This is a rewarding opportunity to join Axcis Education and work in a specialist Alternative Provision setting, where every day offers the chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
About the Role
As a Teaching Assistant in this specialist provision, you will work closely with pupils who benefit from personalised, trauma-informed support. Working under the direction of the class teacher, your responsibilities will include:
Providing high-quality 1:1 and small group support to help pupils access learning and achieve their individual targets
Supporting emotional regulation, positive behaviour strategies, and social development
Delivering tailored learning activities and interventions both in and outside the classroom
Building strong, trusting relationships based on respect, empathy, and consistency
Helping pupils develop greater independence, resilience, and self-confidence
Collaborating with teachers, therapists, and multi-agency professionals to support each child’s EHCP and wellbeing
You will play a vital role in creating a calm, safe, and inclusive environment where pupils feel valued and are encouraged to fulfil their potential.
About the Setting
You will be supporting pupils in a specialist Alternative Provision that offers outstanding individualised education for children and young people aged 5–16 with SEMH and complex needs. Many pupils attend on a temporary basis to rebuild their engagement with education before returning to mainstream school, while others receive longer-term specialist support.
The setting is known for its caring, relationship-focused ethos and its commitment to placing the experiences and individual needs of young people at the heart of everything it does. It operates with strong multi-agency partnerships (including CAMHS, Educational Psychology, and Social Care) to provide holistic, therapeutic-style support in a structured yet nurturing environment.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from dedicated Teaching Assistants who are passionate about SEMH and Alternative Provision. You will ideally have:
Experience supporting children or young people with SEND, particularly SEMH (paid, voluntary, or personal experience accepted)
Patience, empathy, warmth, and emotional resilience
The ability to build positive, trusting relationships and remain calm under pressure
Strong teamwork and communication skills
A genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting pupil wellbeing
Experience with challenging behaviour, Autism (ASD), or trauma-informed approaches is highly desirable but not essential — induction, training and ongoing support will be provided. Experience of working within a school environment is desirable but not essential.
Why Join Axcis Education?
As the UK’s leading specialist SEN recruitment partner, Axcis offers far more than a placement:
We have a strong partnership with The National College, providing you with access to free, high-quality CPD, including the Certificate in the Role of the Learning Support Assistant and specialist modules such as ‘Building Positive Relationships with Complex SEND Pupils’. All training is CPD-verified and directly relevant to effective SEMH and alternative provision support.
You will also receive:
Competitive hourly pay with reliable weekly payments
Dedicated support from an experienced Axcis consultant
Access to a wide variety of SEND and Alternative Provision roles
Excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression
How to Apply
If you’re ready to use your skills to support vulnerable young people in a meaningful specialist setting, we’d love to hear from you.
Please submit an application via indeed.com or contact Laura Dowson at Axcis Education to discuss in more detail.
We welcome applications from candidates at all stages of their SEND career and are committed to supporting your growth every step of the way.
Axcis Education – Connecting passionate people with rewarding SEND roles.
Location: Bristol (BS16)
Contract: Full-time, term-time only
Pay: From £14.25 per hour
Make a lasting impact on young people who need it most
Are you a compassionate and resilient Teaching Assistant passionate about supporting children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs? Do you thrive in a nurturing environment where you can help pupils rebuild confidence, develop emotional independence, and re-engage with learning?
This is a rewarding opportunity to join Axcis Education and work in a specialist Alternative Provision setting, where every day offers the chance to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people.
About the Role
As a Teaching Assistant in this specialist provision, you will work closely with pupils who benefit from personalised, trauma-informed support. Working under the direction of the class teacher, your responsibilities will include:
Providing high-quality 1:1 and small group support to help pupils access learning and achieve their individual targets
Supporting emotional regulation, positive behaviour strategies, and social development
Delivering tailored learning activities and interventions both in and outside the classroom
Building strong, trusting relationships based on respect, empathy, and consistency
Helping pupils develop greater independence, resilience, and self-confidence
Collaborating with teachers, therapists, and multi-agency professionals to support each child’s EHCP and wellbeing
You will play a vital role in creating a calm, safe, and inclusive environment where pupils feel valued and are encouraged to fulfil their potential.
About the Setting
You will be supporting pupils in a specialist Alternative Provision that offers outstanding individualised education for children and young people aged 5–16 with SEMH and complex needs. Many pupils attend on a temporary basis to rebuild their engagement with education before returning to mainstream school, while others receive longer-term specialist support.
The setting is known for its caring, relationship-focused ethos and its commitment to placing the experiences and individual needs of young people at the heart of everything it does. It operates with strong multi-agency partnerships (including CAMHS, Educational Psychology, and Social Care) to provide holistic, therapeutic-style support in a structured yet nurturing environment.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from dedicated Teaching Assistants who are passionate about SEMH and Alternative Provision. You will ideally have:
Experience supporting children or young people with SEND, particularly SEMH (paid, voluntary, or personal experience accepted)
Patience, empathy, warmth, and emotional resilience
The ability to build positive, trusting relationships and remain calm under pressure
Strong teamwork and communication skills
A genuine commitment to safeguarding and promoting pupil wellbeing
Experience with challenging behaviour, Autism (ASD), or trauma-informed approaches is highly desirable but not essential — induction, training and ongoing support will be provided. Experience of working within a school environment is desirable but not essential.
Why Join Axcis Education?
As the UK’s leading specialist SEN recruitment partner, Axcis offers far more than a placement:
We have a strong partnership with The National College, providing you with access to free, high-quality CPD, including the Certificate in the Role of the Learning Support Assistant and specialist modules such as ‘Building Positive Relationships with Complex SEND Pupils’. All training is CPD-verified and directly relevant to effective SEMH and alternative provision support.
You will also receive:
Competitive hourly pay with reliable weekly payments
Dedicated support from an experienced Axcis consultant
Access to a wide variety of SEND and Alternative Provision roles
Excellent opportunities for professional development and career progression
How to Apply
If you’re ready to use your skills to support vulnerable young people in a meaningful specialist setting, we’d love to hear from you.
Please submit an application via indeed.com or contact Laura Dowson at Axcis Education to discuss in more detail.
We welcome applications from candidates at all stages of their SEND career and are committed to supporting your growth every step of the way.
Axcis Education – Connecting passionate people with rewarding SEND roles.