1:1 SEND Teaching Assistant | Challenging Behaviour | Durham Location: Durham

Protocol Education Ltd; North East; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly PAYE pay - no umbrella

FREE CPD Academy

FREE Thrive training

Dedicated consultant

Local Durham SEND opportunities

Support throughout your placement

Referral scheme

Opportunities to develop your SEND exp

Job summary

Protocol Education Ltd. is seeking a 1:1 SEND Teaching Assistant in Durham to support a pupil with complex needs and challenging behaviour. The role involves providing dedicated 1:1 support and contributing to a calm, structured learning environment.

You’ll work with a school team to implement behaviour plans, promote emotional regulation, and encourage learning participation. The position is full-time, term-time only, with PAYE pay and ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience in SEND education or SEMH settings.
• Calm, resilient, patient and consistent.

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated 1:1 support
• Build a strong and trusting relationship with the pupil
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Follow individual behaviour and support plans
• Encourage participation in learning
• Maintain a safe and structured environment
• Respond calmly and appropriately to challenging behaviour
• Work closely with teachers and specialist SEND staff
• Follow safeguarding and school procedures

Skills

Calm demeanor

Resilience

Patience

Consistency

Education

SEND education

SEMH settings

PRUs or alt provisions

Residential care

Youth work

Behaviour support

Mental health support

Teaching Assistant roles

Job description

1:1 SEND Teaching Assistant | Challenging Behaviour | Durham

Location: Durham
Job Type: Full Time, Term Time Only
Start Date: September 2026
Pay: £92.63-£108 per day, dependent on experience

Could you be the consistent adult who helps a child succeed?

Protocol Education are working with SEND schools across Durham who are looking for confident and resilient 1:1 Support Assistants to work with pupils who have complex needs and challenging behaviour.

You’ll be supporting a child who may experience significant emotional dysregulation and behaviours including biting, kicking, throwing objects and physical outbursts.

That can be challenging - but with the right approach, consistency and support, you can help a child develop trust, confidence and strategies to manage their emotions.

Your responsibilities

• Provide dedicated 1:1 support
• Build a strong and trusting relationship with the pupil
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Follow individual behaviour and support plans
• Encourage participation in learning
• Maintain a safe and structured environment
• Respond calmly and appropriately to challenging behaviour
• Work closely with teachers and specialist SEND staff
• Follow safeguarding and school procedures

What we’re looking for

You could come from a range of backgrounds, including:

• SEND education
• SEMH settings
• PRUs or alternative provisions
• Residential care
• Youth work
• Behaviour support
• Mental health support
• Teaching Assistant roles

Most importantly, you’ll need to be calm, resilient, patient and consistent.

You won’t be expected to manage everything alone. The school has experienced staff, established strategies and support available to help you succeed in the role.

Why Protocol Education?

• Weekly PAYE pay - no umbrella
• FREE CPD Academy
• FREE Thrive training
• Dedicated consultant
• Local Durham SEND opportunities
• Support throughout your placement
• Referral scheme
• Opportunities to develop your SEND experience

Ready for a challenge that actually means something?

If you’re someone who doesn’t give up when things get difficult and wants to help a child overcome barriers to learning,

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education', this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.

We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.