Job Title: Teaching Assistant – Alternative Provision (Challenging Behaviour)
Location: Bloxwich
Start Date: ASAP
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 3:30pm (Flexible – Full-time or Part-time)
Contract: Ongoing
Are you calm under pressure, resilient, and passionate about helping young people overcome barriers to learning?
We are currently recruiting for a Teaching Assistant to work in a dynamic and supportive Alternative Provision (AP) setting, supporting students aged 11–18 who may display challenging behaviour, social, emotional, or mental health (SEMH) needs, or who have experienced disruptions to their mainstream education.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is committed to making a real difference in the lives of young people who need it most.
Support students in small group settings or on a 1:1 basis, both in and out of the classroom.
Help manage behaviour in a calm and consistent manner, using de-escalation strategies where appropriate.
Build positive relationships and act as a trusted adult for pupils who may have experienced trauma or adverse life experiences.
Assist in delivering tailored learning activities, focusing on engagement, emotional regulation, and personal development.
Work closely with teachers, behaviour mentors, and pastoral staff to provide a holistic and consistent approach.
Has experience working with young people with SEMH needs or challenging behaviour (within education, youth work, care, or similar).
Understands the importance of structure, patience, and flexibility.
Is resilient, empathetic, and skilled at building rapport.
Can adapt quickly and remain calm in challenging situations.
Has an enhanced DBS on the update service or is willing to obtain one.
A flexible working pattern – full-time or part-time hours available to suit your schedule.
A supportive, team-focused environment with a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing.
Ongoing training and opportunities for professional development.
The opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people who need alternative routes to success.
If you want a role where every day is different and your support truly matters, we want to hear from you.
If you are interested in this position or want to find out more, email Grace at graces@zesteducation.co.uk or ‘apply for job’ at the top of the page to submit your details.
Zest Education are an APSCo audited agency and are dedicated to safeguarding children. All candidates must hold an enhanced DBS (or allow us to process one for you) and be registered to the DBS Update Service, be able to provide references to cover the last two years and successfully pass all other necessary safeguarding checks prior to clearance for work.
Salary is dependent on experience, training, or qualifications. The minimum experience, training, or qualifications required for this position are recent school-based experience (within the last 5 years within a school that teaches the British Curriculum) and/or care-based experience within the last 5 years.
The role advertised is for temporary supply work.
We receive new jobs and positions on a daily basis so keep up to date with us on our social media pages too:
Website: https://www.zesteducation.co.uk/
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Zest Education – small consultancy friendliness with big agency experience.
With over 50 years’ of dedicated education recruitment experience, we understand everything that you go through on a daily basis when working in schools, nurseries and other provisions.
