Graduate Learning Support Assistant – SEND Schools | Gateshead

Start Your Career Supporting Children with SEND

Are you a recent graduate looking for meaningful experience working with children and young people?

Protocol Education are recruiting enthusiastic and compassionate Graduate Learning Support Assistants to work within specialist SEND schools across Gateshead.

This is an excellent opportunity for graduates looking to gain hands-on experience supporting pupils with additional needs while developing the practical skills needed for a future career in teaching, psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social work, youth work or other education and care professions.

Why Work in a SEND School?

Working in a specialist SEND setting gives you the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how children learn, communicate and regulate their emotions.

You could gain experience supporting pupils with:

Autism (ASC)
ADHD
SEMH
Complex learning needs
Communication difficulties
Sensory needs
Behavioural needs
Speech and language difficulties
Physical and medical needs
EHCPs and individual learning plans

You'll work alongside experienced teachers, Teaching Assistants and wider support staff, gaining valuable insight into how specialist schools support pupils to overcome barriers to learning.

Your Role

As a Graduate Learning Support Assistant, you'll provide individual and small-group support to pupils throughout the school day.

Your responsibilities could include:

Providing 1:1 support to pupils with SEND
Supporting small-group learning activities
Helping pupils access the curriculum
Supporting communication and interaction
Encouraging positive behaviour and emotional regulation
Using visual timetables and structured routines
Supporting sensory breaks and regulation strategies
Developing pupils' confidence and independence
Supporting literacy and numeracy activities
Building positive and trusting relationships
Working alongside teachers and specialist staff
Recording pupil engagement and progress

No two days will necessarily look the same, and you'll have the opportunity to learn from experienced SEND professionals while developing your own approach.

A Great Opportunity for Psychology & Education Graduates

This role is particularly suited to graduates considering careers such as:

Educational Psychology
Teaching / PGCE
SEN Teaching
Speech and Language Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Child Psychology
Social Work
Youth and Community Work
Children's Mental Health

You'll gain real classroom experience that can help you understand whether a career working with children and young people is right for you.

Skills You'll Develop

Working within a specialist SEND school will help you build:

Behaviour management skills
SEND knowledge and understanding
Communication skills
Emotional regulation strategies
Classroom experience
Confidence supporting individual needs
Professional teamwork skills
Understanding of EHCPs and personalised support
Experience working with teachers and wider professionals

Who We're Looking For

We're interested in graduates from a wide range of degree backgrounds, including:

Psychology
Education Studies
Speech and Language
Occupational Therapy
Sociology
Criminology
English
Sport
Health & Social Care
Childhood Studies
Mathematics
Science

Previous SEND experience is beneficial but isn't essential.

You may have gained relevant experience through:

Tutoring
Mentoring
Volunteering
Youth work
Sports coaching
Care work
University placements
Supporting children or young people

Most importantly, we're looking for someone who is patient, reliable, enthusiastic and genuinely passionate about supporting children with additional needs.

What Protocol Education Offers

Competitive daily pay
Full-time and long-term opportunities
Specialist SEND school placements across Gateshead
Weekly PAYE payments
FREE CPD and online training
Training in areas including SEND, Autism, Safeguarding and Behaviour Management
Dedicated education consultant
Ongoing support throughout your placement
Opportunities to progress into Teaching Assistant, HLTA and teaching roles
Potential permanent opportunities
£50 Refer a Friend bonus

Start Building Your SEND Career

If you're a graduate looking for more than just a graduate job and want to gain genuine experience supporting children with SEND, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Apply today and start building the experience, confidence and skills needed for a rewarding career in education and specialist support.

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.