Full-Time Teaching Assistant – Peterlee Area
Position: Full-Time Teaching Assistant (Specialist SEND)
Location: Peterlee area (willingness to travel / driver preferred)
Hours: 37 hours per week, term time plus inset days
Start date: As soon as available
About the role
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dedicated specialist provision catering for children and young people (ages 2–19) with complex needs, including autism spectrum, severe or profound learning difficulties and SEMH. You’ll support pupils’ holistic development, working closely with teachers, therapists and support staff to deliver a structured, supportive and inclusive environment.
Key responsibilities
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Assist in classroom delivery and small group work, adapting to pupils’ needs.
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Support pupils’ emotional and behavioural regulation, using de-escalation, trauma-informed strategies and visual supports.
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Help maintain predictable routines, visual timetables, sensory breaks and communication aids (e.g. PECS).
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Provide care and supervision for pupils with high support needs (e.g. personal care, mobility).
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Monitor and report on pupil progress and wellbeing, collaborating with multi-disciplinary staff and families.
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Maintain high standards of safeguarding, promoting pupils’ dignity, independence and voice.
Essential requirements / skills
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Experience in a specialist or SEND environment (preferred, but not essential).
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Ability to work calmly under pressure, with patience, empathy, resilience and good observational skills.
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Strong communication and team working skills.
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Willingness to travel to multiple sites if needed.
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Enhanced DBS (child & adult) or willingness to obtain.
What we offer
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A supportive and experienced staff team committed to inclusive, high-quality education.
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Professional development opportunities and access to specialist training.
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A role with real impact: helping young people flourish and prepare for adulthood.
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The chance to grow your career in a specialist SEND setting.
How to apply:
Please send your CV and a covering letter explaining why you’re interested in a specialist SEND environment and how your skills align with the role.
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.
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