SEMH TA Apprentice
LIFT SCHOOLS
Sheffield (S5 0SD)
Closes in 14 days (Thursday 8 October 2026)
Posted on 23 September 2026
Contents
Summary
Lift Firth Park is looking for a skilled SEMH Teaching Assistant to join our onsite Alternative Provision, supporting pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
- Wage
-
£26,558 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£26,558.00 – £27,440.00
- Training course
- Teaching assistant (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday- Friday, 39 weeks per year. Times to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Sunday 1 November 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Key responsibilities:
- Lead targeted 1:1 and small group interventions to support emotional regulation, resilience, behaviour for learning and academic progress, particularly for pupils with SEND and SEMH needs
- Work closely with teachers to plan learning, assess progress, provide feedback and adapt support to meet individual student needs
- Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils, acting as a mentor and key adult to promote confidence, independence, wellbeing and positive behaviour
- Support the development of an inclusive Alternative Provision by creating safe, engaging learning environments where every student can succeed
- Work collaboratively with teachers, pastoral teams, SEND staff and families to support student progress and strengthen home-school partnerships
What we’re looking for:
- Experienced in supporting children or young people, particularly those with SEMH, SEND or additional learning needs.Confident leading learning, delivering interventions and covering lessons independently
- Skilled at building positive relationships and using restorative, trauma-informed approaches to support behaviour and wellbeing
- An excellent communicator who works collaboratively with colleagues, families and external professionals
- Organised, adaptable and able to remain calm, resilient and solution-focused in a fast-paced environment
- Committed to helping every child achieve their potential through high expectations, compassion and consistency
- Qualified to HLTA standard - minimum of Level 3 (or able to demonstrate equivalent experience), with strong literacy and numeracy skills
- For those candidates with demonstrable experience but that do not hold the relevant qualifications for HLTA you will be enrolled onto our Level 3 apprenticeship programme
- UK right to work, this role is not available for sponsorship
Where you'll work
Lift Firth Park
Fircroft Avenue
Sheffield
S5 0SD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
LIFT SCHOOLS
Training course
Teaching assistant (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
- Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
- Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
- Adapt resources to support all learners.
- Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
- Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
- Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
- Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
- Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
- Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
- Apply methods of formative assessment.
- Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
- Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
- Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
- Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
- Provide feedback to learners.
- Apply strategies to support and encourage the development of independent learners.
- Adapt communication strategies for the audience and context.
- Apply behaviour management strategies in line with organisational policy.
- Adapt resources to support all learners.
- Communicate with teachers to ensure clarity of the TA’s role.
- Apply teaching strategies to deliver learning activities or interventions.
- Build relationships with learners, teachers, other professionals and stakeholders.
- Comply with legislation, guidance, and procedures for Prevent, safeguarding and health & safety.
- Support the well-being and mental health of learners.
- Observe, record, and report on learners in line with organisational procedures.
- Apply methods of formative assessment.
- Use up to date technology safely, to support learning.
- Encourage safe use of technology by learners.
- Adapt teaching strategies to support all learners (for example, scaffolding, open questioning).
- Identify and respond to pastoral and academic behaviours in learners.
- Provide feedback to learners.
Training schedule
- As part of our continued commitment to professional development, this role also offers the opportunity for anybody who does not currently hold a Teaching Assistant qualification to complete their level 3 ‘Initial Teaching Assistant Training’
- Your Trainer will meet with you in the workplace or online every 2-4 weeks
- In between these meetings, you will have dedicated time away from your job to work on the apprenticeship and collate evidence for your apprenticeship e-portfolio with ongoing support from your Manager and Trainer
More training information
- This will be a permanent position, and the duration of the apprenticeship will be determined by the job role and current skills
- The typical duration of the apprenticeship is 24 months. However, it can be longer or shorter depending on existing knowledge, skills and experience
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
Level 2 in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Willing to learn
- Ability to self-evaluate
Other requirements
To be eligible, applicants must have resided in the UK or EEA for 3 years prior to the start of the apprenticeship.
Please note applicants must not have already completed a Level 3 Teaching Assistant apprenticeship.
About this employer
Who is Lift Schools?
Lift Schools is made up of 62 primary, secondary and special schools, educating more than 35,000 pupils across the country. We believe education can transform lives – and we want every child in our schools to achieve their full potential.
https://careers.liftschools.org/home (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Pension scheme (LGPS)
- Additional Lift Schools benefits
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
- Due to operational requirements, apprentices cannot be guaranteed a permanent job or higher-level apprenticeship on completion of their apprenticeship
- Where a suitable permanent job or an advanced level apprenticeship opportunity becomes available in their training school or other trust schools, apprentices are strongly encouraged to apply for it and, subject to satisfactory completion of their apprenticeship and suitable qualifications/experience, will be guaranteed an interview
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
LIFT SCHOOLS
Talent Team
recruitment@liftschools.org
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000055119.
Apply now
Closes in 14 days (Thursday 8 October 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.