SEND Teaching Assistant

Protocol Education; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly PAYE pay

CPD Academy access

Dedicated consultant

Job summary

Protocol Education is seeking a compassionate SEND Teaching Assistant to support students with SEMH in a specialist school near Stockton. This role goes beyond traditional support, focusing on building trust and helping pupils feel safe, understood and capable again.

You will collaborate with teachers, therapists and pastoral teams to maintain a calm, consistent presence and celebrate small, meaningful progress.

Qualifications

• Experience with SEMH, SEND or challenging behaviour.
• Stays calm under pressure and patient.
• Builds genuine rapport with pupils.
• Resilience, empathy and humour.
• Adaptable; every day is different.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEMH needs.
• Help students regulate emotions and re-engage with learning.
• Work with teachers, therapists and pastoral teams.
• Be a consistent, calm presence throughout the day.
• Celebrate progress beyond academics.

Skills

Empathy

Patience under pressure

Relationship building

Resilience

Job description

This isn't your typical classroom role — and we're not looking for a typical Teaching Assistant.

If you're the kind of person who can stay grounded when things feel chaotic, build trust where it's been broken, and see behaviour for what it really is — communication — then this could be exactly what you've been looking for.

Protocol Education is working with a specialist SEMH school in the Stockton area, and they're searching for a resilient, compassionate SEND Teaching Assistant who's ready to make a real impact from day one.

What makes this role different?

• Relationships come before results
• Patience is more powerful than pressure
• Small steps forward are celebrated in a big way
• You won't just be “supporting learning” — you'll be helping young people feel safe, understood, and capable again.

What your day could look like:

• Supporting pupils with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs
• Helping students regulate emotions and re-engage with learning
• Working closely with teachers, therapists, and pastoral teams
• Acting as a consistent, calm presence throughout the school day
• Recognising and celebrating progress — even when it's not academic

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with children or young people with SEMH, SEND, or challenging behaviour
• Stays calm under pressure and approach each day with patience
• Builds genuine rapport — you're someone pupils naturally trust
• Brings resilience, empathy, and a sense of humour
• Understands that every day is different — and that's okay

Why you'll love working with Protocol Education:

• Weekly PAYE pay — no umbrella companies
• Free access to our CPD Academy (including SEND training)
• A dedicated consultant who actually listens to you
• Long-term opportunities in supportive, well-matched schools
• A chance to build meaningful experience in specialist education

Important Information:

All applicants must have (or be willing to obtain):

• An enhanced DBS check (with Update Service subscription)
• Relevant qualifications or experience for the role

Protocol Education is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All candidates will be subject to safeguarding checks in line with DfE guidance, including an online search where appropriate.

This role is temporary, with the potential to become permanent for the right candidate.

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 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