Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant

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

Job summary

Protocol Education are looking for a confident and resilient Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant to join a specialist or supportive school setting in the Peterlee area. This role would suit someone who is comfortable working with children and young people who may display challenging behaviour, emotional regulation difficulties or SEMH needs.

The successful candidate will understand that behaviour is often a form of communication and will be able to remain calm, consistent and positive even when

Qualifications

• Experience in SEMH settings.
• Experience in behaviour support.
• Experience in youth work or residential care.
• Experience in education or mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small-group behavioural support.
• Build strong and trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support pupils to regulate their emotions.
• Encourage positive choices and behaviour.
• Reinforce clear and consistent boundaries.
• Support pupils to identify triggers and develop coping strategies.
• Help pupils re-engage with learning.
• Work alongside teachers to maintain a calm classroom environment.
• Support pupils during lessons, transitions, break and lunchtime.
• Encourage positive communication and social interaction.
• Help pupils develop confidence and independence.
• Follow individual behaviour and support plans.
• Contribute observations to the wider teaching and pastoral team.
• Act as a positive and consistent role model.

Skills

SEMH experience

Behaviour support

Youth work

Residential care

Children's services

Sports coaching

Mentoring

Education

Support work

Job description

Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant | Peterlee | Full Time

Location: Peterlee
Job Type: Full Time, Term Time Only
Start Date: September 2026
Hours: 8:30am–4:00pm
Pay: Competitive daily rate, dependent on experience

Build relationships. Set boundaries. Change outcomes.

Protocol Education are looking for a confident and resilient Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant to join a specialist or supportive school setting in the Peterlee area.

This role would suit someone who is comfortable working with children and young people who may display challenging behaviour, emotional regulation difficulties or SEMH needs.

The successful candidate will understand that behaviour is often a form of communication and will be able to remain calm, consistent and positive even when situations become challenging.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will:

• Provide 1:1 and small-group behavioural support.
• Build strong and trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support pupils to regulate their emotions.
• Encourage positive choices and behaviour.
• Reinforce clear and consistent boundaries.
• Support pupils to identify triggers and develop coping strategies.
• Help pupils re-engage with learning.
• Work alongside teachers to maintain a calm classroom environment.
• Support pupils during lessons, transitions, break and lunchtime.
• Encourage positive communication and social interaction.
• Help pupils develop confidence and independence.
• Follow individual behaviour and support plans.
• Contribute observations to the wider teaching and pastoral team.
• Act as a positive and consistent role model.

What We’re Looking For

This could be a great role for someone with previous experience in:

• SEMH settings.
• Behaviour support.
• Youth work.
• Residential care.
• Children's services.
• Sports coaching.
• Mentoring.
• Education.
• Support work.

You don't necessarily need extensive school experience. We're looking for someone who is:

• Calm under pressure.
• Patient and resilient.
• Confident and approachable.
• Consistent.
• Able to build rapport.
• Comfortable setting appropriate boundaries.
• Passionate about helping young people succeed.

Drivers Welcome

Drivers with access to their own vehicle are ideally wanted for this role due to the location of some Peterlee-area settings.

However, this is not essential, provided you can reliably travel to the school each day.

Protocol Education Benefits

• Competitive daily pay.
• Weekly PAYE payments.
• FREE CPD and online training.
• Behaviour and SEND training opportunities.
• Dedicated education consultant.
• Long-term and permanent opportunities.
• Ongoing support.
• £50 Refer a Friend bonus.

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.