Psychology Graduate Teaching Assistant
Secondary SEN Support | Wakefield
Full-time, long-term contract
Are you a psychology graduate looking to put your learning into practice, not just on paper?
We’re working closely with a welcoming secondary school in Wakefield that’s looking for a full-time Psychology Graduate Teaching Assistant to join their SEN support team. This is a long-term role with consistency, structure, and the chance to make a real difference to young people who need it most.
This school is big on inclusion and pastoral support. You’ll be working with pupils who need extra help to manage emotions, behaviour, and learning, and you’ll be supported by an experienced SENCO and pastoral team who genuinely value their support staff.
The role
1. Full-time, Monday to Friday
2. Supporting pupils with SEN, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, and additional learning needs
3. Working 1:1 and in small groups across the secondary age range
4. Helping pupils stay regulated, engaged, and confident in the classroom
5. Building positive relationships and being a steady, trusted adult
Why this is ideal for psychology graduates
6. Hands-on experience with adolescent behaviour and mental health
7. Exposure to SEN strategies, behaviour support, and emotional regulation
8. A strong stepping stone into educational psychology, teaching, or youth work
9. Consistency, routine, and the chance to really get to know the pupils you support
What the school is looking for
10. A psychology graduate (or closely related degree)
11. Calm, patient, and emotionally aware
12. Confident working with teenagers who may display challenging behaviour
13. Experience with young people is helpful, but not essential, the right attitude matters most
What you’ll get through Protocol Education
14. Weekly PAYE pay, no umbrella companies
15. FREE access to our online CPD Academy
16. Ongoing support from a dedicated, local consultant
17. A full-time placement in one school, no bouncing around
If you’re not Thrive trained yet, we’ve got you covered. We offer free Thrive training, which is highly valued by secondary SEN teams and gives you a real edge when supporting emotional wellbeing.
If you’re Wakefield-based and looking for a full-time role where you can build experience, confidence, and real impact, this could be a great next step.
Have a read, tweak it to suit your style, and shout if you want a shorter job board version or a more informal one for socials.
Go get those days!
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 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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