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.<br/><br />If you are interested, then please click on the apply button and contact Laura Dowson on 0117 472 2400 l Ext: 2014.<br /><br />If you are not interested in this role but know someone else who might be, <strong>don&#39;t forget that we offer &pound;50 in shopping vouchers if you refer a friend to us and we place them in the job.</strong> For more details, contact your local Axcis office.<br /><br /><em>This is a temporary position, unless stated otherwise.</em><br /><br /><em>Axcis is an equal opportunities employer and as such we do not discriminate based on age, gender, disability, race or any other equal opportunities criteria.<br /><br />The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As such, you will be required to provide an up to date DBS, or be prepared to allow Axcis to process one on your behalf, in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines (for details please see our website).<br /><br />If the position you are applying for involves working with children or vulnerable adults, this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.</em><br /><br /><em>Axcis Education is an employment agency offering temporary supply work for daily, short-term and long-term assignments in addition to permanent positions.<br /><br />You must be suitably qualified for the position advertised and be prepared to attend a face to face interview with Axcis to demonstrate your suitability for this role.<br /><br />Salary / Pay Rate will be dependent on your skills and experience.</em><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#e0004d;"><a href="/job-page-disclaimer">View the disclaimer</a></span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#e0004d;"><strong>Contact: </strong></span><strong> Laura Dowson&nbsp;</strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#e0004d;">Telephone: </span> 0117 472 2400 l Ext: 2014</strong></strong>