Job Title: SEND Teaching Assistant – Support That Starts with Trust Location: Sunderland Salary: £89–£108 per day Contract: Full-time, Long-Term Start Date: September 2025 Some of the most important learning doesn’t start with letters and numbers-it starts with trust, calm, and care. We’re supporting a specialist primary setting in Sunderland that works with children aged 2–11 with profound and multiple learning difficulties, complex medical needs, and severe developmental delays. This is a school where sensory learning, therapeutic approaches, and pupil wellbeing come first. And it’s a team that values every small breakthrough as a big step forward. As a Teaching Assistant here, you’ll be part of a thoughtful, multidisciplinary team that works with children at the earliest stages of development—helping them access the world, feel safe, and take part in rich, meaningful learning experiences every day. Your role will include: Supporting pupils with PMLD, medical needs, and sensory processing differences Using play-based and sensory approaches to engage learners Assisting with personal care, physical support, and mobility when needed Working closely with teachers, therapists, and families to provide consistent care You’ll need: Experience working with children or young people with SEND, especially those with PMLD or complex needs A calm, gentle approach and a strong sense of empathy Confidence supporting non-verbal communication and sensory learning Willingness to help with personal care and physical support where required Thrive-trained already? Fantastic. If not, we’ll cover that- at no cost. It’s a brilliant tool for emotional development and regulation, and schools like this really value it. Why join Protocol Education? Weekly PAYE pay FREE Thrive and specialist SEND training A dedicated consultant who understands complex needs settings Long-term, meaningful placements where you can make a real difference This is more than a classroom role-it’s a chance to help children feel safe, understood, and ready to learn in their own way. Apply today or get in touch to find out more. 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.