Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant | Sunderland | Full Time

Location: Sunderland
Job Type: Full Time, Term Time Only
Start Date: September 2026
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, school hours
Pay: £98–£120 per day, depending on experience

Not every pupil needs another person telling them what to do. Sometimes they need someone who believes in them.

Protocol Education are currently recruiting for a Behaviour Support Teaching Assistant in Sunderland, supporting pupils who may experience behavioural, emotional and social barriers to learning.

This role would suit someone who is naturally confident, patient and resilient and who wants to build meaningful relationships with young people.

You could be supporting pupils who have previously struggled within mainstream education and need additional consistency, encouragement and understanding to re-engage with learning.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Providing 1:1 and small-group support
• Building positive relationships with pupils
• Supporting pupils with behavioural needs
• Encouraging engagement with education
• Acting as a positive role model
• Helping pupils manage emotions and behaviour
• Using positive reinforcement strategies
• Supporting pupils during lessons and transitions
• Helping pupils develop social and emotional skills
• Encouraging independence and resilience
• Working alongside teachers and pastoral staff
• Contributing to individual support strategies

The successful candidate will understand the importance of being consistent without being confrontational and will be able to remain calm in challenging situations.

Experience that could transfer well into this role includes:

• Teaching Assistant
• Behaviour Mentor
• Youth Worker
• Sports Coach
• Support Worker
• Care Worker
• Residential Worker
• Prison/Probation Support
• Community Support
• Coaching or mentoring

Previous school experience is beneficial but not essential.

We're looking for someone who is:

• Resilient and emotionally mature
• Patient and understanding
• Confident setting appropriate boundaries
• Naturally encouraging
• Reliable and consistent
• Comfortable working with challenging behaviour
• Passionate about helping young people achieve their potential

What you'll receive from Protocol Education:

• Competitive daily pay
• Weekly PAYE payments
• FREE CPD and online training
• Dedicated education consultant
• Long-term and permanent opportunities
• Ongoing support
• £50 Refer a Friend bonus

If you're looking for a role where your consistency, patience and personality can genuinely change a young person's experience of education, 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 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.