Learning Support Assistant - Behaviour & SEMH

Protocol Education; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily pay

Weekly PAYE payments

Free CPD training

Dedicated education consultant

Ongoing placement support

Long-term and permanent opportunities

£50 Refer a Friend bonus

Job summary

Protocol Education in Sunderland is recruiting a Learning Support Assistant to support pupils with SEMH and behavioural needs in a specialist setting. The role is full-time term-time only with a start date in September 2026 and hours 8:30am–4:30pm.

You will work closely with teaching staff to ensure pupils access learning while receiving encouragement and structure throughout the school day. The successful candidate will have a calm, patient approach, excellent communication, and a genuine

Qualifications

• Calm and confident personality with strong communication skills.
• Excellent relationship-building and patience with pupils.
• Interest in supporting young people with SEN/SEMH.
• Experience not essential; transferable skills welcomed from youth work, coaching, or care roles.
• Driving licence is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small-group learning support.
• Supporting pupils with additional learning and behavioural needs.
• Encouraging positive engagement in lessons.
• Helping pupils develop their literacy, communication and social skills.
• Supporting emotional regulation.
• Reinforcing classroom expectations and boundaries.
• Using positive behaviour strategies.
• Building strong relationships with pupils.
• Supporting pupils during transitions and less structured periods.
• Encouraging independence and responsibility.
• Communicating effectively with teaching staff and pastoral teams.
• Helping create a positive and inclusive learning environment.

Skills

Calm and confident personality

Excellent communication skills

Strong relationship-building

Patience and resilience

Consistency in behaviour management

Team collaboration

Interest in SEN/SEMH support

Driving licence advantageous

Job description

Learning Support Assistant – Behaviour & SEMH | Sunderland

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

A role where consistency really matters.

Protocol Education are recruiting for a Learning Support Assistant to support pupils with SEMH and behavioural needs within a specialist Sunderland setting.

This role would be particularly well suited to someone who enjoys working with young people and is confident providing both academic and pastoral support.

You will work closely with teaching staff to ensure pupils are able to access learning whilst also receiving the encouragement and structure they need throughout the school day.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1 and small-group learning support.
• Supporting pupils with additional learning and behavioural needs.
• Encouraging positive engagement in lessons.
• Helping pupils develop their literacy, communication and social skills.
• Supporting emotional regulation.
• Reinforcing classroom expectations and boundaries.
• Using positive behaviour strategies.
• Building strong relationships with pupils.
• Supporting pupils during transitions and less structured periods.
• Encouraging independence and responsibility.
• Communicating effectively with teaching staff and pastoral teams.
• Helping create a positive and inclusive learning environment.

What Makes a Great Candidate?

The successful candidate will have:

• A calm and confident personality.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Patience and resilience.
• A consistent approach to behaviour.
• The ability to work as part of a wider team.
• A genuine interest in supporting young people with additional needs.
• Previous experience isn't essential if you can demonstrate strong transferable skills. Youth workers, sports coaches, care workers, mentors and graduates with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
• A driving licence and access to a vehicle would be advantageous.

Protocol Education Benefits

• Competitive daily pay.
• Weekly PAYE payments.
• FREE CPD and online training.
• Dedicated education consultant.
• Ongoing placement support.
• Long-term and permanent opportunities.
• £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