Primary Teaching Assistant

Location: Oakham Contract: Full-Time, Temp-to-Perm Start Date: 1st September 2026 Your new school Hays Education are working with a welcoming and supportive SEMH School that caters for primary-aged pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. The school provides a nurturing, therapeutic environment where relationships are at the heart of everything they do. Staff are committed to helping pupils overcome barriers to learning, build confidence and achieve positive outcomes both academically and personally. The school benefits from a highly experienced leadership team, excellent pastoral support and a collaborative approach to supporting every child's individual needs. This is an opportunity to join a dedicated team that genuinely makes a difference every day. Your new role As a Primary Teaching Assistant, you will provide tailored support to pupils with SEMH needs, both inside and outside of the classroom. Working closely with teachers and wider professionals, you will help create a positive learning environment where pupils feel safe, engaged and supported. Your responsibilities will include: • Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups. • Building positive relationships and acting as a trusted adult. • Encouraging engagement in learning and promoting positive behaviour. • Supporting pupils with emotional regulation and social development. • Assisting with the delivery of creative and engaging lessons. • Working alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral teams to support individual learning plans. • Helping to maintain a safe, structured and nurturing classroom environment. What you'll need to succeed To be successful in this role, you will: • Have previous experience working with children or young people, ideally within an SEMH, SEN or Alternative Provision setting. • Be patient, resilient and committed to supporting vulnerable pupils. • Have excellent communication and relationship-building skills. • Be confident managing challenging behaviour using a calm and positive approach. • Demonstrate a genuine passion for helping children overcome barriers to learning. • Hold relevant Teaching Assistant qualifications or equivalent experience (desirable but not essential). What you'll get in return • Competitive rates of pay. • Opportunity to secure a permanent position. • Ongoing support from a dedicated Hays consultant. • Access to training and professional development opportunities. • The chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of children and young people. If you're passionate about supporting children with SEMH needs and want to be part of a rewarding and fulfilling school environment, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to start your new role this September. What you need to do now If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career. Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk