Job Title: Trainee SLD Support Worker
Location: Northumberland
Salary: £85–£100 per day (PAYE – no umbrella deductions)
Contract: Full-time | Long-Term
Start Your Career Supporting Children with Complex Needs
What if your kindness, patience, and willingness to learn could help a child take a step they never thought possible?
We’re supporting a specialist school in Northumberland to find a Trainee Support Worker to work with pupils who have Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and complex needs. You don’t need school experience to apply—just the right attitude and a commitment to helping every child feel seen, safe, and supported.
You’ll be part of a team who value relationships, routines, and small steps forward. For pupils with profound and multiple needs, progress can look different—and your role will be to make every moment count.
What You’ll Be Doing
1. Providing calm, consistent one-to-one or small group support
2. Helping children access sensory-based or highly individualised learning
3. Supporting personal care needs and practical routines where appropriate
4. Creating a safe, nurturing environment that helps pupils feel understood
5. Collaborating with teachers, therapists, and families to deliver joined-up support
6. Celebrating every small achievement as a big success
What We’re Looking For
This is an entry-level role, ideal for someone looking to gain experience in education, care, or SEND support. You might have a background in youth work, care, support work, or simply want to start a meaningful new path.
We're looking for someone who:
7. Has warmth, empathy, and the ability to stay calm in a busy, changing environment
8. Can follow routines while responding flexibly to pupil needs
9. Listens well and communicates clearly with both adults and children
10. Believes every child deserves to be valued, supported, and respected
11. Brings kindness, integrity, and resilience into their daily work
What You'll Get with Protocol Education
12. Weekly PAYE pay—no umbrella deductions or admin headaches
13. Free CPD, including training in autism, sensory needs, and communication strategies
14. Full support from a dedicated SEN consultant who understands your school
15. Long-term growth opportunities within SEND, education, or care
16. Referral rewards if you recommend others to join the team
Apply Now to Begin Your Journey
If you’re ready to step into a role that’s challenging, rewarding, and deeply meaningful—we’d love to support you.
Apply today or get in touch to speak with our team about starting your career in SEND.
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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