Teaching Assistant - Secondary Age

Protocol Education; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 17,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Education is seeking a compassionate SEN Teaching Assistant to support a looked after child on a 1:1 basis in a Wakefield school from September. This role focuses on building trust, routines, and helping the pupil feel safe and ready to learn.

You’ll work closely with one pupil, providing tailored support beyond academics, with emphasis on trauma-informed care and consistent, patient guidance. DBS checks and safeguarding training are expected.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children with SEN, particularly on a 1:1 basis.
• Background working with looked after children, or an understanding of trauma-informed practice.
• Confidence managing behaviours that can sometimes be challenging.
• Experience in a school, alternative provision, or care setting.

Responsibilities

• Support one pupil on a 1:1 basis in a Wakefield school.
• Build routines and trust to help learning and wellbeing.
• Apply trauma-informed approaches to support behaviour and engagement.

Skills

1:1 Support

SEN Experience

Trauma-informed

Behaviour Management

School/Care Experience

Job description

SEN Teaching Assistant 1:1 Support Role | September Start | Wakefield

There’s something special about being the one person a child can truly rely on.

We’re looking for a compassionate and committed SEN Teaching Assistant to support a looked after child on a 1:1 basis in a welcoming Wakefield school from September. This is a role where relationships come first, consistency matters, and the impact you make will be felt every single day.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be working closely with one pupil, providing tailored support to help them feel safe, understood, and ready to learn. This isn’t just about academics, it’s about building trust, creating routine, and helping a young person navigate school life with confidence.

What we’re looking for

Experience matters here, but who you are matters just as much.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience supporting children with SEN, particularly on a 1:1 basis


• A background working with looked after children, or an understanding of trauma-informed practice


• Confidence managing behaviours that can sometimes be challenging


• Experience in a school, alternative provision, or care setting

The kind of person who thrives in this role

You’re patient, calm, and don’t take things personally. You understand that behaviour is communication, and you’re able to respond with empathy while still holding clear boundaries.

• Naturally nurturing, but resilient when things feel tough


• Consistent and reliable, someone a child can learn to trust


• Adaptable, able to think on your feet and adjust your approach


• A great listener, picking up on what’s said, and what isn’t

Most importantly, you genuinely care about making a difference.

Why this role stands out

This is more than a classroom support role. You’ll be a key figure in a child’s day, helping them feel secure, valued, and capable. The right person will leave a lasting impact.

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.