Occupational Therapy Learning Support Assistant

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

Job summary

Protocol Education Limited in Gateshead is seeking an Occupational Therapy Learning Support Assistant to join a welcoming primary school and support pupils with SEND on a full-time basis.

The role blends therapeutic knowledge with hands-on classroom assistance, helping children develop life skills, independence, and access learning tailored to their needs. You will work with teachers and SEND staff to adapt activities and environments and support sensory, motor, and emotional development.

Qualifications

• Qualified Occupational Therapists or Occupational Therapy Graduates.
• Experience or interest in education and SEND.
• Passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning.
• Confident working collaboratively as part of a school team.
• Patient, empathetic and adaptable in approach.
• Experience with SEND, Autism, ADHD, SEMH, or communication needs or willingness to develop knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups.
• Implement practical strategies to promote independence and engagement in learning.
• Work with teachers and SEND staff to adapt activities and learning environments.
• Support children with sensory processing, fine motor development and emotional regulation.
• Encourage confidence, communication and positive social interactions.
• Monitor progress and contribute to pupil support plans as appropriate.
• Build strong relationships with pupils, staff and families.

Skills

Empathy

Adaptability

Collaborative work

Understanding of child development

Education

Qualified Occupational Therapist or OT Graduate

Job description

Occupational Therapy Learning Support Assistant

Are you a qualified Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Graduate, or someone with a passion for supporting children with additional needs?

A welcoming Primary School in Gateshead is seeking an Occupational Therapy Learning Support Assistant to join their team on a full-time basis. This unique role combines therapeutic understanding with hands‑on classroom support, allowing you to make a meaningful difference to pupils both academically and developmentally.

You'll work closely with pupils who require additional support, helping them develop essential life skills, improve independence, and access learning in a way that suits their individual needs.

The Role

As an Occupational Therapy Learning Support Assistant, you will use your knowledge of child development, sensory needs, and functional skills to support pupils throughout the school day.

Key Responsibilities

• Support pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups within the classroom.
• Implement practical strategies to promote independence and engagement in learning.
• Work alongside teachers and SEND staff to adapt activities and learning environments.
• Support children with sensory processing, fine motor development, and emotional regulation.
• Encourage confidence, communication, and positive social interactions.
• Monitor progress and contribute to pupil support plans where appropriate.
• Build strong relationships with pupils, staff, and families to ensure consistent support.

Who We're Looking For

We would love to hear from candidates who are:

• Qualified Occupational Therapists or Occupational Therapy Graduates.
• Interested in developing their experience within education and SEND.
• Passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning.
• Confident working collaboratively as part of a wider school team.
• Patient, empathetic, and adaptable in their approach.
• Experienced supporting children with SEND, Autism, ADHD, SEMH, or communication needs, or keen to develop their knowledge in these areas.

About the School

This inclusive primary school in Gateshead is known for its nurturing ethos and commitment to ensuring every child can thrive. Staff work closely together to create a positive and supportive learning environment where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to achieve their potential.

The school places a strong emphasis on relationships, wellbeing, and personalised support, making it an excellent setting for someone looking to apply occupational therapy knowledge within education.

Why This Role?

• Gain valuable experience applying occupational therapy principles in a school setting.
• Support children at a crucial stage of their development.
• Work within a collaborative and supportive staff team.
• Develop your SEND knowledge and professional skills.
• See the direct impact of your support on pupils' learning, confidence, and independence.
• Build experience that can support future careers in Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology, SEND, or teaching.

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.