Complex Needs Support Assistant | Gateshead

Protocol Education Ltd; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly PAYE pay

Free CPD and SEND training

Dedicated consultant support

Long-term and permanent opportunities

Ongoing career support

£50 Refer a Friend bonus

Job summary

Protocol Education is hiring a Complex Needs Support Assistant for a specialist SEND school in Gateshead. You will support pupils to communicate, learn, regulate, and develop independence, contributing to daily activities and progress tracking.

The role is full-time, term-time only, with start in September 2026. Hours are 8:30am–3:30pm / 4:30pm, and pay ranges from £98 to £120 per day. Prior SEND/education experience is advantageous, and you will work closely with teachers and other staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in SEND, education, care, nursing or youth work would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Supporting pupils with complex SEND needs.
• Working 1:1 and within small groups.
• Helping pupils access lessons and activities.
• Using visual and personalised communication strategies.
• Supporting sensory breaks and regulation.
• Encouraging independence.
• Supporting transitions throughout the school day.
• Promoting positive behaviour.
• Helping pupils develop social and life skills.
• Working closely with teachers and support staff.
• Sharing observations and progress.

Skills

Resilient

Patient

Caring

Adaptable

Consistent

Positive

Job description

Complex Needs Support Assistant | Gateshead

Looking for a role where your support genuinely matters?

Protocol Education are recruiting for a Complex Needs Support Assistant to work within a specialist SEND school in Gateshead.

You'll become an important part of a pupil's day — helping them communicate, learn, regulate, develop independence and experience success.

Location: Gateshead

Job Type: Full Time, Term Time Only

Start Date: September 2026

Hours: 8:30am–3:30pm / 4:30pm

Pay: £98–£120 per day

Your Day Could Include

• Supporting pupils with complex SEND needs
• Working 1:1 and within small groups
• Helping pupils access lessons and activities
• Using visual and personalised communication strategies
• Supporting sensory breaks and regulation
• Encouraging independence
• Supporting transitions throughout the school day
• Promoting positive behaviour
• Helping pupils develop social and life skills
• Working closely with teachers and support staff
• Sharing observations and progress

You May Be Supporting Pupils With

• Autism/ASC
• Complex learning needs
• Severe or moderate learning difficulties
• Speech, language and communication needs
• Sensory needs
• Physical needs
• SEMH and emotional regulation difficulties

Could You Be The Right Person?

We're looking for someone who is:

Resilient | Patient | Caring | Adaptable | Consistent | Positive

Previous experience isn't essential, but experience within SEND, education, care, nursing, youth work or support work would be an advantage.

Most importantly, you'll need to be comfortable working in a busy specialist environment and remain calm and consistent when pupils are finding things difficult.

What You'll Get

• £98–£120 per day
• Weekly PAYE pay
• FREE CPD and SEND training
• Dedicated consultant support
• Long-term and permanent opportunities
• Ongoing career 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.