Psychology Graduate - Trainee SEND Support Assistant (Primary School)

Protocol Education; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive weekly pay

Educator CPD Academy

Dedicated consultant support

Long-term progression opportunities

Job summary

Protocol Education is recruiting a Psychology Graduate Trainee SEND Support Assistant for a welcoming primary school in Wallsend. You will support pupils with SEND across KS1 and KS2, working 1:1 or in small groups under the guidance of class teachers and the SENCO.

This role focuses on attention, behaviour, emotional regulation and learning, helping pupils feel safe and ready to learn. The ideal candidate is a Psychology graduate with an interest in SEND or child development, calm, patient and

Qualifications

• Psychology graduate or similar degree.
• Interest in SEND, behaviour, mental health or child development.
• Calm, patient and resilient.
• Willing to learn and take feedback.
• Experience with SEND is welcome but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils 1:1 or in small groups.
• Help children manage behaviour and emotional regulation.
• Use strategies such as visual prompts, calm routines and reward systems.
• Support literacy and numeracy tasks at an appropriate level.
• Encourage social skills and confidence during lessons and breaktimes.
• Assist with structured interventions and tailored learning activities.
• Help pupils stay focused and engaged throughout the day.

Skills

Psychology

Behaviour management

Relationship building

Learning support

Education

Psychology degree

Job description

Are you a Psychology graduate looking to build hands-on experience in education, SEND, or child mental health?

A welcoming and inclusive primary school in Wallsend is looking for a Psychology Graduate Trainee SEND Support Assistant to join their team and support pupils with additional needs across KS1 and KS2. This is an ideal opportunity if you’re considering a future career in Educational Psychology, CAMHS, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work or Teaching.

This role is all about supporting pupils who may struggle with attention, behaviour, emotional regulation, communication or learning, and helping them feel safe, settled and ready to learn.

About the School

This primary school is known for its warm staff team, strong leadership and inclusive approach to supporting children with additional needs. Staff work closely with the SENCO and pastoral team to ensure pupils receive consistent, structured support. The school has a calm, nurturing culture and values graduates who are eager to learn, take initiative and build positive relationships with pupils.

The school is well located in Wallsend with good public transport links and nearby parking.

Your Role as a Trainee SEND Support Assistant

You will work closely with class teachers and the SENCO to support pupils with SEND needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and language needs and learning difficulties.

Your day-to-day responsibilities may include:

• Supporting pupils 1:1 or in small groups
• Helping children manage behaviour and emotional regulation
• Using strategies such as visual prompts, calm routines and reward systems
• Supporting literacy and numeracy tasks at an appropriate level
• Encouraging social skills and confidence during lessons and breaktimes
• Assisting with structured interventions and tailored learning activities
• Helping pupils stay focused and engaged throughout the school day

This is a practical, hands-on role where you will gain real experience working with children who need extra support.

Who This Role Suits

This role would suit someone who is:

• A Psychology graduate (or similar degree)
• Interested in SEND, behaviour, mental health or child development
• Calm, patient and resilient
• Confident building relationships and setting boundaries
• Willing to learn and take feedback
• Comfortable working with pupils who may display challenging behaviour

Experience is helpful, but not essential. The school is happy to support someone who is committed and eager to learn.

Why Join Protocol Education?

• Free access to our Educator CPD Academy (including SEND and safeguarding training)
• Ongoing support from a dedicated consultant
• Opportunities for long-term progression into specialist SEND roles
• Competitive weekly pay and consistent work

Safeguarding

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references, in line with DfE guidance.

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.