SEMH Teaching Assistant

Location: Dragons RFC, Corporation Rd, Newport NP19 0BH
Hours: Full Time, Monday-Friday (8:30am - 3:30pm)
Contract: Permanent (temp-to-perm)
Salary: £100 - £110 per day (including holiday pay)

Join a Brand-New Alternative Provision in Newport:
We are recruiting SEMH Teaching Assistants to join an exciting new independent specialist provision opening in Newport.
Working in partnership with the local community and supported by strong links with the Gwent Dragons, this innovative setting has been created to support young people aged 11-14 who are currently unable to access mainstream education due to trauma, SEMH needs and other ALN/SEND.
This provision is intentionally small, allowing staff to build meaningful relationships and deliver truly personalised support. The school will also have access to its own clinical therapy team and will combine trauma-informed practice with innovative learning approaches to help young people re-engage with education and thrive.

The Role:
As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting pupils both academically and emotionally. You will work alongside students as they access online learning programmes for English, Maths and Science. You will then deliver the wider curriculum activities with the support of the team. This rewarding work will help young people feel valued and understood. This is not a traditional classroom role. Building positive relationships will be at the heart of everything you do. The school has very good public transport links, located within a 15 minute walk of Newport train station and a 10 minute walk from the bus station.

Your responsibilities will include:
Supporting young people with SEMH and additional learning needs
Working alongside pupils during online and face-to-face learning sessions
Providing encouragement, emotional support, and positive role modelling
Supporting community-based learning and off-site activities
Assisting with student engagement outside the classroom environment
Conducting outreach work and supporting home engagement where required
Helping create a strong sense of belonging and community for every learner
Transporting and collecting students when necessary (business insurance will be arranged for you)

Working Pattern:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: On-site provision
Wednesday: Community-based activities, educational outings, sports engagement, outdoor learning, or home support visits
Hours: 8:30am - 3:30pm (30-minute unpaid lunch)

About You:
We are looking for individuals who are:
Experienced in supporting children or young people with SEMH, SEND/ALN, or challenging behaviours
Resilient, patient, and relationship-focused
Passionate about alternative education and trauma-informed practice
Comfortable working in a non-traditional educational setting
Confident supporting pupils both on-site and in the community
Able to work independently and use initiative

Desirable:
Experience within alternative provisions, PRUs, special schools, youth work, residential care, or outreach services
Team Teach, PRICE, or other positive behaviour support training
Experience supporting vulnerable or disengaged learners

What We Offer:
Opportunity to join a brand-new provision from its launch phase
Small class sizes and high staff-to-student ratios
Training and professional development opportunities (Team Teach training provided)
A clear temp-to-perm pathway of 20 5-day weeks
The chance to make a genuine difference to young people

If you're passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and want to be part of an innovative provision that puts relationships, wellbeing and outcomes first, we want to hear from you.
If you think this could be a job for you, please get in touch to find out more from Bella at (phone number removed). We are always available for an informal chat if you want to find out more about whether this role is suited to you.
Pay: Five Education operates a PAYE payroll; this is the most transparent way to be paid with no hidden fees such as admin fee or employer's NI. Please note pay rate is for illustration and does include holiday pay.
Vetting: Five Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all of the staff we employ to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undergo checks including reference checks, TRA checks and will need to have a DBS; there will also be an interview.
We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as they are currently under-represented at this level.
Contact Bella on (phone number removed) / (url removed)