1:1 Support Assistant – Special Needs School, Durham A welcoming special needs school in Durham is looking for a caring and committed 1:1 Support Assistant to join their team. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who loves helping young people feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. If you’re calm, patient, and motivated by seeing pupils make steady, meaningful progress, this could be the perfect role for you. About the role You’ll be supporting one pupil throughout the school day, helping them access learning and build the confidence needed to take part in everyday classroom life. Your presence will give them the stability and reassurance they need to thrive. Your responsibilities will include: Offering consistent 1:1 support in lessons, during transitions, and social times Helping the pupil follow routines and understand expectations Encouraging communication, independence, and emotional regulation Using clear, agreed strategies to manage behaviour calmly and effectively Working closely with teachers, therapists, and the SENCO to keep support consistent Celebrating small steps forward and building positive, trusting relationships Every day brings opportunities to make a real difference. What the school can offer A supportive, dedicated team who work closely together A nurturing environment tailored to pupils’ needs Clear structures, resources, and guidance for staff Opportunities for ongoing training and professional growth What we’re looking for Experience working with children or young people, ideally in SEND A calm, warm, and resilient approach Confidence supporting pupils with communication or emotional needs Strong teamwork and communication skills Someone who genuinely enjoys helping children progress at their own pace Why join Protocol Education? Weekly PAYE pay Free access to our online CPD courses Support from a dedicated SEND specialist consultant Local opportunities across Durham and the North East A smooth, friendly registration process If this sounds like the kind of role you’d thrive in, I’d love to talk you through the next steps and introduce you to the school in Durham. 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.