Do you believe that every child deserves to feel safe, understood, and supported to succeed, even when learning hasn’t always been straightforward?
We are looking for compassionate, resilient 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistants to support pupils with a range of additional needs in a nurturing, specialist school environment. This is a role for people who are calm under pressure, emotionally intelligent, and genuinely motivated to help young people thrive.
You do not need to have worked in a school before. Experience supporting children or young people with additional needs in other settings such as care, youth work, mental health services, family support, or community roles is highly valued.
About the school
This is a specialist provision designed for children who need something different from mainstream education.
The school focuses on nurture, relationships, and emotional wellbeing as the foundation for learning. Many pupils have experienced challenges linked to SEMH, trauma, anxiety, neurodiversity, or communication needs, and benefit from consistent, patient adult support.
Class sizes are small, routines are clear, and staff work closely together to create a calm, structured environment where pupils feel safe enough to engage with learning at their own pace. Success here is measured not just academically, but through confidence, regulation, and re-engagement with education.
The role
As a 1:1 SEN Teaching Assistant, you will:
* Provide dedicated 1:1 support to a pupil throughout the school day
* Help pupils regulate emotions, manage transitions, and access learning
* Work closely with teachers, therapists, and pastoral staff to follow individual support plans
* Use consistent, trauma-informed approaches to build trust and positive relationships
* Support learning both in the classroom and through practical, hands-on activities
This role is ideal if you’re considering a future career in education, psychology, therapy, youth work, or social care, or if you simply want to do work that genuinely matters.
Who we’re looking for
You might be a great fit if you:
* Have experience supporting children or young people with additional needs (any setting)
* Are calm, patient, and able to remain regulated when pupils struggle
* Understand that behaviour is communication
* Value teamwork, reflection, and consistent approaches
* Care deeply about inclusion, dignity, and wellbeing
School-based SEN experience is welcomed but not essential. The right attitude, empathy, and resilience matter most.
What the school offers
* A supportive, experienced staff team who look out for one another
* A strong focus on training, guidance, and shared practice
* A values-led environment where relationships come first
* The chance to make a genuine difference to a child’s daily life
* Meaningful, rewarding work where progress is truly felt
Safeguarding and inclusion
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to appropriate checks, including an enhanced DBS. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the school’s ethos, and applications are welcomed from all backgrounds.
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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