Full-Time Teaching Assistant – Sunderland Area
Position: Full-Time Teaching Assistant (Specialist SEND)
Location: Sunderland / Tyne & Wear area (willingness to travel / driver essential)
Hours: Full 37 hours per week, term time + inset days
Start date: Immediately
About the role
You will join a supportive, specialist learning environment for children and young people aged 2–19 with complex needs (autism, learning difficulties, SEMH). The role involves working across a range of settings—classroom, therapy spaces, and community placements—to support each pupil’s growth and independence.
Key responsibilities
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Support pupils in class and small group settings, adapting tasks to individual needs.
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Use trauma-aware strategies for behavioural and emotional support, plus de-escalation and self-regulation techniques.
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Assist with daily living skills, personal care, communication aids, sensory needs and safe movement.
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Contribute to planning, assessment and feedback for pupils’ educational, social and independence goals.
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Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and with families to ensure consistency and best outcomes.
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Uphold the highest safeguarding standards and promote pupils’ dignity and voice at all times.
Skills & experience
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Previous experience in SEND or specialist settings is advantageous.
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Calm, patient, resilient with good interpersonal skills.
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Ability to adapt, problem-solve, and respond flexibly to changing needs.
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Must drive, have access to a car, and be willing to travel between sites.
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Enhanced DBS (child & adult) or willingness to obtain.
Perks & benefits
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A role where your contribution genuinely shapes pupils’ futures.
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Access to specialist CPD in areas like behaviour support, communication, SEMH and therapy integration.
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A collaborative, caring team culture with shared values.
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Potential progression within the specialist provision sector.
How to apply:
Send a CV plus a short covering statement outlining why you’re passionate about working with pupils with complex needs and what you bring to a specialist 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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