SEND Classroom Support Assistant (Occupational Therapy Graduate) - Reception

Are you an Occupational Therapy graduate looking to gain hands-on experience before pursuing further qualifications or a clinical career?

A friendly and nurturing primary school in Walker (NE6) is seeking a full-time SEND Support Assistant to work within a reception class that supports a number of children with complex additional needs. This role offers the opportunity to make a genuine difference while developing practical skills within an educational setting.

Location: Walker, Newcastle (NE6)
Pay: £92.63 - £102 per day
Start Date: September 2026
Contract: Full-time, Long-term

What you'll be doing

• Supporting children with Autism, sensory processing needs, and communication difficulties
• Delivering structured interventions throughout the school day
• Encouraging participation during lessons and social activities
• Supporting emotional regulation and engagement
• Assisting with the implementation of EHCP targets
• Helping create a calm and inclusive classroom environment

This role could be perfect if you are:

• An Occupational Therapy graduate
• Interested in paediatric occupational therapy or SEND provision
• Resilient, patient, and empathetic
• Organised and able to follow support plans
• Looking to gain meaningful experience before further study

About the school

Located in the heart of Walker, this community-focused primary school prides itself on creating an environment where every child feels valued and supported. The school promotes a holistic approach to education, combining academic achievement with social, emotional, and physical development. Staff are highly supportive, and ongoing professional development is actively encouraged.

What you'll gain

This role offers excellent exposure to SEND practices, therapeutic approaches, and multidisciplinary working. You'll develop practical skills highly valued in Occupational Therapy, Educational Psychology, and teaching careers.

Why work with Protocol Education?

• Weekly PAYE pay, no umbrella companies
• FREE access to our online CPD Academy
• Personalised support from a dedicated consultant
• Opportunities in mainstream, SEND, and alternative settings
• Streamlined registration and local bookings
• Referral scheme, earn rewards for referring friends

Bonus tip for aspiring SEN professionals: Are you Thrive trained? If not, ask us about our FREE Thrive training. It's a fantastic qualification that helps you better understand children's emotional development and can make your CV even more appealing to schools.

Apply today and start making a difference where it matters most.

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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