Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Position: Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor / SEN Support
Hours: Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:00
Salary: £14.40 – £15.55 per hour
Contract: Ongoing temporary with potential for permanent employment
Start Date: November 2026 or as soon as possible
Are you an experienced Teaching Assistant, SEN Support Assistant, Behaviour Mentor or Nurture Practitioner looking for a rewarding role supporting children and young people with additional needs?
Inspire EHC is recruiting a Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor to join a supportive specialist school near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with experience supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism (ASD) and other additional learning needs.
You will play an important role in helping pupils feel safe, supported and ready to learn, while developing positive relationships and helping them overcome barriers to education.
About the Role – Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor
As a Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor, you will work closely with teachers, therapists and the wider SEN team to provide consistent, nurturing support to children and young people with SEMH, Autism and complex additional needs.
The school follows a trauma-informed approach and places strong emphasis on emotional regulation, positive behaviour support, wellbeing and personalised learning.
This role would suit someone who is calm, patient and resilient, with a genuine passion for supporting children who may have experienced difficulties within mainstream education.
Key Responsibilities
Provide one-to-one and small-group support to pupils with SEN, SEMH and Autism.
Support pupils within lessons, helping them access learning alongside the class teacher.
Build positive, trusting relationships with children and young people.
Use trauma-informed approaches and positive behaviour support strategies.
Help pupils develop emotional regulation and coping strategies.
Support children and young people who may display challenging behaviour.
Use calm, consistent and effective de-escalation techniques when required.
Support teachers with individual learning plans, interventions and personalised activities.
Encourage independence, confidence, social interaction and engagement with learning.
Deliver structured, creative and nurturing activities that support learning and development.
Work closely with teachers, therapists and other SEN professionals to provide consistent support.
Contribute to a safe, inclusive and positive learning environment.
About You
We are looking for a compassionate and adaptable individual who is passionate about working with children and young people with additional needs.
You may have experience as a:
SEN Teaching Assistant
Special Educational Needs Teaching Assistant
Learning Support Assistant (LSA)
Behaviour Mentor
Nurture Mentor
SEMH Teaching Assistant
SEN Support Worker
Learning Support Worker
Residential Support Worker
Youth Worker
Pastoral Support Worker
Previous experience supporting children or young people with SEMH, Autism, ASD, challenging behaviour or additional learning needs is highly desirable.
You will ideally have:
GCSE Maths and English at Grade 4/C or equivalent.
Experience supporting children or young people with SEN, SEMH or Autism.
A calm, patient and understanding approach.
Good communication and teamwork skills.
The ability to build positive and trusting relationships with pupils.
An understanding of positive behaviour support and de-escalation.
Knowledge or experience of trauma-informed practice is desirable.
A flexible and adaptable approach to supporting individual needs.
The ability to commute to Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
About the School
Our partner school near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, provides specialist education for children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism and other additional learning needs.
The school offers a nurturing and trauma-informed environment, with small class sizes and a strong focus on emotional wellbeing, positive behaviour, confidence and engagement with learning.
Teachers and support staff work closely with therapists and other professionals to provide personalised support and help pupils develop the skills they need both in education and in everyday life.
Why Work with Inspire EHC?
At Inspire EHC, we specialise in SEN and specialist education recruitment, supporting schools and candidates across Suffolk and the surrounding areas.
As an Inspire EHC candidate, you will receive:
A dedicated recruitment consultant who understands your experience and career goals.
Access to over 20 free CPD training courses.
Training opportunities including safeguarding, behaviour management and trauma-informed practice.
Weekly PAYE pay with no hidden umbrella company fees.
Ongoing support throughout your placement.
Opportunities to secure permanent positions within SEN and specialist education.
Access to a range of SEN, SEMH, Autism and specialist education opportunities across Suffolk.
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Inspire EHC and our partner schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
All successful applicants will be required to have, or be willing to obtain, an enhanced DBS check and provide two professional references.
Inspire EHC is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Apply Now – Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor, Bury St Edmunds
If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with SEN, SEMH or Autism and would like to make a genuine difference to their education and wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today for this Nurture and Behaviour Support Mentor position in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, or contact Inspire EHC to discuss the opportunity and other SEN and specialist education roles available across Suffolk
Salary description
£14.40 - £15.55 per hour