Sports Graduate

Protocol Education Limited; Leeds; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Education Limited seeks a Sports Graduate Teaching Assistant in Leeds to support pupils with SEND. The role blends classroom support, physical activity, behaviour support and relationship building to help students reach their potential.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Sports Science, PE, Sports Coaching or Psychology and a genuine interest in SEND, education, mental health, or child development. This role offers meaningful work in a specialist SEND setting.

Qualifications

• Degree in Sports Science, PE, Sports Coaching, Psychology, or related field.
• Genuine interest in supporting children with SEND.
• Patience, empathy, resilience and a positive attitude.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Support students with SEND in the classroom, during PE lessons and structured activities.
• Build positive relationships with young people requiring emotional and behavioural support.
• Promote confidence, communication, social skills and emotional regulation through sport and movement.
• Support pupils with Autism, ADHD, SEMH and other needs.
• Adapt activities so every student can participate, experience success and stay engaged.
• Act as a positive role model, encouraging independence and self-belief.
• Work alongside teachers, therapists and SEND professionals in a specialist setting.

Skills

Sports Science

Physical Education

Sports Coaching

Psychology

SEND awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science/PE/Sports Coaching/Psychology or related field

Job description

Sports Graduate Teaching Assistant

Make a Difference Through Sport

Love sport and want to use it to help young people thrive?

Not every achievement happens on a football pitch or in a sports hall.

Sometimes it's a student attending a lesson when they would normally struggle. Sometimes it's helping a young person regulate their emotions, build confidence, or feel part of a team for the very first time.

A large specialist SEND school in Leeds is looking for a Sports Graduate Teaching Assistant to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This role combines classroom support, physical activity, behaviour support, and relationship building to help students achieve their full potential.

This is much more than a sports role.

You'll use sport, movement, and physical activity as powerful tools to help young people develop confidence, communication skills, resilience, emotional regulation, and independence.

If you're a graduate in Sports Science, Physical Education, Sports Coaching, Psychology, or a related subject, and you're interested in SEND, education, mental health, behaviour support, or child development, this could be the perfect first step in your career.

The Role

As a Sports Graduate Teaching Assistant, you will:

• Support students with SEND in the classroom, during PE lessons, and through structured activities
• Build positive relationships with young people who may require additional emotional and behavioural support
• Promote confidence, communication, social skills, and emotional regulation through sport and movement
• Support pupils with Autism, ADHD, SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs), and other additional needs
• Adapt activities to ensure every student can participate, experience success, and remain engaged
• Act as a positive role model, encouraging students to develop independence and self-belief
• Work alongside experienced teachers, therapists, and SEND professionals within a specialist setting

Why This Role Matters

For many young people in specialist education, sport is much more than exercise.

It's confidence.

It's structure.

It's connection.

It's often the moment a young person discovers they can succeed.

You'll play an important role in helping pupils feel safe, valued, included, and capable both inside and outside the classroom.

This Role Is Ideal For:

• Sports Science Graduates
• Physical Education (PE) Graduates
• Sports Coaching Graduates
• Psychology Graduates
• Aspiring Teachers
• Future Educational Psychologists
• Behaviour Mentors
• Youth Workers
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Anyone passionate about supporting children and young people with SEND

What We're Looking For

• A degree in Sports Science, Physical Education, Sports Coaching, Psychology, or a related field
• A genuine interest in supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs
• Patience, empathy, resilience, and a positive attitude
• Strong communication and teamwork skills