Teaching Assistant - Complex Behaviour & SEMH

Protocol Education Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 17,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive daily pay

Weekly PAYE payments

Free CPD and online training

Dedicated education consultant

Ongoing support

Long-term and permanent opportunities

£50 Refer a Friend bonus

Job summary

Protocol Education Ltd is seeking a Teaching Assistant specialising in SEMH and behaviour support to work in a specialist education setting in Sunderland. The role focuses on supporting pupils with complex behavioural and SEMH needs and providing targeted 1:1 and small-group interventions.

You will build trusting relationships, help pupils regulate emotions, identify triggers and develop coping strategies, and work closely with teachers to manage behaviours and promote learning.

Qualifications

• Experience in SEMH, behaviour, youth work, care, residential settings, sports coaching or mentoring would be highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Supporting pupils with complex behavioural and SEMH needs.
• Providing 1:1 and small-group intervention.
• Building positive and professional relationships.
• Supporting pupils to regulate their emotions.
• Helping pupils identify triggers and develop coping strategies.
• Encouraging engagement with learning.
• Supporting teachers with behaviour management.
• Maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
• Using de-escalation techniques when required.
• Supporting pupils during break and lunch.
• Encouraging positive choices and independence.
• Celebrating pupil progress and helping raise aspirations.

Skills

SEMH

Behaviour support

1:1 support

Teamwork

Job description

Teaching Assistant – Complex Behaviour & SEMH | Sunderland

Location: Sunderland
Job Type: Full Time, Term Time Only
Start Date: September 2026
Hours: 8:30am–4:30pm
Pay: Competitive daily rate, dependent on experience

Do you have the patience, confidence and personality to support complex behaviour?

Protocol Education are recruiting for a Teaching Assistant specialising in SEMH and behaviour support to work within a specialist education setting in Sunderland.

This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who understands that challenging behaviour is often a form of communication and who can remain calm, consistent and supportive when pupils are struggling.

The Role

You will be responsible for:

• Supporting pupils with complex behavioural and SEMH needs.
• Providing 1:1 and small-group intervention.
• Building positive and professional relationships.
• Supporting pupils to regulate their emotions.
• Helping pupils identify triggers and develop coping strategies.
• Encouraging engagement with learning.
• Supporting teachers with behaviour management.
• Maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.
• Using de-escalation techniques when required.
• Supporting pupils during break and lunch.
• Encouraging positive choices and independence.
• Celebrating pupil progress and helping raise aspirations.

The role may also provide opportunities for further training, including Team Teach, where appropriate.

The Person

We're looking for someone who is:

• Confident and charismatic.
• Warm and approachable.
• Resilient and patient.
• Comfortable working with challenging behaviour.
• Able to build trust quickly.
• Consistent in their approach.
• Able to work collaboratively with teachers and support staff.
• Passionate about giving young people a positive educational experience.

Experience in SEMH, behaviour, youth work, care, residential settings, sports coaching or mentoring would be highly desirable.

Driving is a bonus, particularly for candidates who can travel easily to specialist settings across Sunderland and the surrounding areas.

Why Join Protocol Education?

• Competitive daily pay.
• Weekly PAYE payments.
• FREE CPD and online training.
• Dedicated education consultant.
• Ongoing support.
• Long-term and permanent opportunities.
• £50 Refer a Friend bonus.

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.