Occupational Therapy Career in Education

Protocol Education; Gateshead; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Education Limited in Gateshead is recruiting Occupational Therapy students in their final year and recent graduates for full‑time roles starting May 2026. You will gain hands‑on experience supporting pupils with SEND in a school setting, helping them develop independence, social skills and confidence throughout the day.

The role offers ongoing professional development and close collaboration with education professionals to support pupil progress and well‑being.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEND, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, and sensory needs
• Deliver targeted support to individuals and small groups
• Assist pupils in developing independence, social skills, and confidence
• Support sensory regulation strategies throughout the school day
• Promote participation in learning and daily school activities
• Collaborate with teaching staff and wider professionals to support pupil progress

Job description

Launch Your Occupational Therapy Career in Education

Occupational Therapy Student or Graduate?

Looking to gain hands‑on experience while making a real difference to young people with special educational needs?

A highly supportive SEND school in Gateshead is recruiting Occupational Therapy students in their final year and recent graduates for full‑time positions starting from May 2026.

This is an excellent opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in a practical setting while building invaluable experience for future clinical, community, or educational Occupational Therapy roles.

Your Day-to-Day Duties

You will:

• Support pupils with SEND, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, and sensory needs
• Deliver targeted support to individuals and small groups
• Assist pupils in developing independence, social skills, and confidence
• Support sensory regulation strategies throughout the school day
• Promote participation in learning and daily school activities
• Collaborate with teaching staff and wider professionals to support pupil progress

Why Schools Value Occupational Therapy Graduates

Occupational Therapists bring specialist knowledge that supports pupils far beyond the classroom.

You understand:

• Sensory processing and regulation
• Functional independence and life skills
• Environmental adaptations
• Child development and participation
• Holistic approaches to wellbeing

Benefits

• Full‑time, Monday to Friday working pattern
• School‑based experience supporting a wide range of needs
• Professional development opportunities
• Excellent preparation for future Occupational Therapy careers
• Ongoing support from experienced education professionals

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.