Occupational Therapy Graduates

Protocol Education Limited; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Education Limited is partnering with Tyne and Wear schools to recruit Occupational Therapy graduates and final-year students for school-based support roles starting May 2026, Monday to Friday. Think classroom, not clinic, with OT skills at the forefront.

You’ll work with pupils with SEND, including autism, ADHD, and sensory needs, helping develop motor skills, 1:1 or small groups, and collaborate with teachers and SENCOs to foster inclusive learning.

Qualifications

• Must have or be completing an Occupational Therapy degree.
• Experience supporting pupils with SEND and sensory needs is desirable.
• Ability to work in school settings and collaborate with teachers/SENCOs.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEND, including autism, ADHD and sensory needs.
• Help children develop fine and gross motor skills in a school setting.
• Work 1:1 or in small groups to build confidence and independence.
• Collaborate with teachers and SENCOs to create inclusive learning environments.
• Bring calm, structure and understanding to pupils who need it most.

Skills

SEND support

Autism awareness

Sensory regulation

1:1 support

Education

Occupational Therapy degree

Job description

Just finishing your Occupational Therapy degree, or already got it under your belt? Wondering how to turn all that knowledge into something real, rewarding, and genuinely impactful?

This could be your perfect next step.

We’re working with schools across Tyne and Wear who are looking for Occupational Therapy students in their third year, and recent graduates, to step into support roles from May 2026 onwards, Monday to Friday. No two days are the same, and that’s exactly the point.

What could your role look like?

Think less clinic, more classroom… but your OT skills are still front and centre.

You might be:

• Supporting pupils with SEND, including autism, ADHD, and sensory needs
• Helping children develop fine and gross motor skills in a school setting
• Working 1:1 or in small groups to build confidence and independence
• Collaborating with teachers and SENCOs to create inclusive learning environments
• Bringing calm, structure, and understanding to pupils who need it most

Why do schools love Occupational Therapy graduates?

In short, you bring something different, and schools feel the impact straight away.

• You see the whole child, not just the behaviour
• You understand sensory regulation and emotional needs
• You bring strategies that actually work in real-life settings
• You’re calm, patient, and solutions-focused, even on the tricky days
• You help pupils access learning in ways that stick

What’s in it for you?

This isn’t just a job, it’s a seriously valuable stepping stone.

• Gain hands‑on experience with a wide range of SEND needs
• Build confidence working in fast‑paced, real‑world environments
• See your impact daily, those small wins add up quickly
• Strengthen your CV for future OT roles or specialist pathways
• Explore whether education, therapy, or a mix of both is your long‑term fit

Plus, you’ll be supported by a friendly team who actually get it, no being thrown in at the deep end.

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.