SEMH Teaching Assistant – Sunderland
Title: SEMH Teaching Assistant
Location: Sunderland
Contract Type: Term-time, permanent or long-term fixed term
Hours: Full-time Monday - Friday
About the Role
We are looking for a compassionate, resilient SEMH Teaching Assistant to join a specialist alternative provision in Sunderland. You will support children and young people for whom mainstream education has proven difficult due to social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs. The role involves working closely with teachers, SENCOs, and pastoral support to deliver engaging, supportive learning experiences.
Key Responsibilities
1. Work 1:1 and in small groups to support pupils’ academic engagement and emotional wellbeing
2. Assist with behaviour management, de-escalation techniques, and positive behaviour strategies
3. Help develop social, emotional skills and resilience through targeted interventions
4. Support students returning from exclusion or disengagement to re-engage with learning
5. Provide feedback and contribute observations for pupil progress and planning
Person Specification
6. Experience working with children/young people with SEMH, or in similar support roles
7. Empathy, patience, and strong communication skills
8. Ability to remain calm and consistent in challenging situations
9. Flexible approach; willing to adapt to changing pupil needs
10. Relevant safeguarding certification or willingness to obtain DBS
What We Offer
11. Specialist training and ongoing professional development
12. Rewarding environment where your work makes a tangible impact
13. A supportive, skilled team committed to inclusion and wellbeing
14. Competitive rates of pay, paid via PAYE
If you want to help young people find stability, grow confidence, and succeed, we’d love to hear from you.
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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