Teaching Assistant - Mainstream Primary School | Grays, Thurrock, Essex

Full-Time | September 2026 Start

Tradewind Recruitment is proud to be recognised as one of the UK's Sunday Times Top 100 Employers, committed to stopping at nothing to ensure our candidates come first.

Are you passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential?

Tradewind Recruitment is working with a welcoming mainstream primary school in Grays, Thurrock to recruit a compassionate and resilient SEMH Teaching Assistant to join their team from September 2026.

This is a rewarding opportunity to support pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Children with SEMH may find it difficult to regulate their emotions, manage their behaviour, build positive relationships or engage consistently with learning. With the right support, encouragement and understanding, these pupils can flourish both academically and personally.

Working alongside the class teacher and SEND team, you'll play a key role in helping children feel safe, understood and ready to learn.

The Role

As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Provide one-to-one and small-group support for pupils with SEMH and additional learning needs.

• Help children develop emotional regulation, confidence and positive coping strategies.

• Build strong, trusting relationships that enable pupils to feel secure and valued.

• Support pupils to engage positively with learning and classroom routines.

• Use positive behaviour management techniques to encourage appropriate behaviours.

• Work closely with teachers, the SEND team and parents to ensure pupils receive consistent support.

• Celebrate progress, no matter how small, and help pupils achieve their individual goals.

The School Is Keen to Hear From Candidates With Experience Supporting Children With:

• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

• Challenging behaviour.

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC).

• ADHD.

• Attachment and trauma-related needs.

• Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN).

• Anxiety and emotional regulation difficulties.

• Other SEND or behavioural needs.

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Be calm, patient and resilient.

• Have experience supporting children with SEMH, SEND or behavioural needs.

• Understand that behaviour is often a way of communicating an unmet need.

• Build positive, professional and trusting relationships with pupils.

• Be confident using positive behaviour management strategies.

• Have a genuine passion for helping every child succeed.

• Work well as part of a supportive school team.

Previous experience as an SEMH Teaching Assistant, Behaviour Mentor, Learning Support Assistant, Youth Worker, Residential Support Worker, Care Worker or in another child-focused role would be highly desirable. Candidates with transferable experience working with children or young people are also encouraged to apply.

Why Work with Tradewind Recruitment?

As a Sunday Times Top 100 Employer, we're committed to providing exceptional support to every candidate we work with.

You'll benefit from:

• Competitive rates of pay.

• A dedicated education consultant who takes the time to understand your career goals.

• Access to a wide range of long-term and permanent opportunities.

• Free access to over 2,500 CPD courses and webinars through The National College.

• Ongoing professional development and career support.

• A recruitment partner that genuinely puts educators first.

If you're ready to make a lasting difference in the lives of children who need additional emotional and behavioural support, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and join Tradewind Recruitment - a Sunday Times Top 100 Employer that is committed to helping exceptional education professionals build brighter futures for children.