SEMH Learning Support Assistant
Location: Pontefract (easily commutable from Castleford, Wakefield, Normanton, Featherstone & surrounding areas)
Pay: £101.40 – £120 per day
Hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm, Monday – Friday
Start Date: November or January
Supporting Children with Complex Needs (Autism, PDA & SEMH)
Are you empathetic, patient, and resilient – someone who believes every child deserves to feel safe, understood, and valued, no matter how complex their needs?
We’re recruiting Learning Support Assistants for a specialist SEN school in Pontefract, working with primary and secondary pupils with profound and complex needs, including Autism, SEMH, attachment difficulties, and trauma-related behaviours.
This is an ideal role for graduates or aspiring professionals in Psychology, Criminology, Youth & Community Work, Education, or related fields, as well as individuals with experience in social care, youth work, or SEN support.
What You’ll Be Doing
1. Build safe, trusting relationships with pupils who may struggle with engagement
2. Support emotional regulation using low-arousal, trauma-informed approaches
3. Provide 1:1 and small-group support, focusing on communication, sensory regulation, and wellbeing
4. Work closely with teachers, therapists, and pastoral staff to meet individual needs
5. Help children re-engage with learning through connection, empathy, and consistency
6. Celebrate progress and milestones, no matter how small
Who We’re Looking For
7. Graduates or professionals in Psychology, Criminology, Education, Youth Work, or similar
8. Calm, reflective, and resilient individuals who can stay regulated under pressure
9. People who believe in trauma recovery, relational practice, and child-centred support
10. Experience in SEN, care, youth work, or behaviour support is beneficial but not essential (training provided)
Why This Role?
11. Exceptional hands-on experience supporting children with complex needs
12. Ideal for careers in SEN teaching, social care, mental health, or therapeutic education
13. Work in a trauma-informed, supportive school environment
14. Training provided in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), PDA-informed practice, and restorative approaches
15. Opportunity for a permanent role after the summer term
About Milk Education
Milk Education connects compassionate individuals with schools that share their values, prioritising wellbeing, inclusion, and long-term impact.
Benefits of Working with Milk Education:
16. Competitive daily pay rates
17. Free ongoing trauma-informed CPD and specialist training
18. Access to SEN resources and guidance
19. Reflective support and wellbeing check-ins during your placement
20. Dedicated consultant available to support you 24/7
21. Contribution to initiatives supporting mental health and emotional literacy in schools
Help children rebuild trust, develop confidence, and find their voice in a supportive environment.
Apply today or email: