Teaching Assistant - Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

Some Young People Have Stopped Believing Education Is for Them

They may have experienced exclusion.

They may have struggled in mainstream education for years.

There may be SEND, SEMH, trauma, difficult experiences outside school, disrupted education or relationships with adults that haven't always worked.

And by the time a young person arrives in a Pupil Referral Unit, another adult telling them to "just try harder" probably isn't going to change very much.

What can make a difference is consistency, boundaries, patience and somebody who continues to see the potential behind the behaviour.

We are recruiting a Teaching Assistant to work full-time within a Pupil Referral Unit in Oldham , supporting young people who need a different approach to education.

This isn't an ordinary classroom support role.

But for the right person, it could be one of the most valuable.

Your First Job Isn't Always Getting Them to Complete the Work

Sometimes it's getting a young person through the door.

Helping them remain in a lesson.

De-escalating a situation before it becomes a crisis.

Rebuilding trust after a difficult morning.

Or showing someone who has experienced repeated setbacks that yesterday doesn't have to determine what happens today.

You'll work closely with teachers and other education professionals to help young people re-engage with learning and develop the skills they need to move forward .

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing 1:1 and small-group support.
• Helping pupils access learning at an appropriate level.
• Supporting students who may have gaps in their education.
• Encouraging engagement when motivation is low.
• Supporting emotional regulation and positive behaviour.
• Recognising triggers and responding appropriately when situations escalate.
• Helping establish clear, consistent routines and boundaries.
• Adapting activities around different learning and support needs.
• Encouraging communication, confidence and positive relationships.
• Monitoring engagement and progress and feeding back to teaching staff.
• Supporting pupils' social and emotional development alongside their academic learning.
• Working collaboratively with teachers and the wider pastoral/support team.

You Need to Be Able to See Beyond the Behaviour

Working in a PRU requires resilience. There may be challenging language. There may be refusal. There may be days when a young person you've spent weeks building a relationship with appears to take several steps backwards. The right Teaching Assistant won't take every difficult interaction personally. Instead, you'll be able to ask:

What's happening here? What is this young person communicating? What approach might work better?

That doesn't mean accepting inappropriate behaviour or removing boundaries. In fact, young people often need adults who can provide clear, predictable and consistent expectations while maintaining the relationship when things go wrong. It's that balance that matters.

Who Could Be Brilliant in This Role?

Previous experience in a PRU would be extremely valuable, but it isn't necessarily the only relevant background.

You may have worked within:

Alternative Provision • SEMH • SEND • Mainstream Education • Youth Work • Behaviour Support • Mentoring • Residential Care • Support Work • Sports Coaching

We're interested in people who can bring relevant experience of working with young people and who genuinely want to understand them.

You'll need:

• Experience supporting children or young people in education or another relevant environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Confidence managing challenging situations.
• A calm approach under pressure.
• Clear and professional communication.
• The ability to establish boundaries without constantly creating confrontation.
• Flexibility when the original plan isn't working.
• A willingness to learn from experienced colleagues.
• A genuine commitment to helping young people re-engage with education.

Above all, you'll need high expectations without unrealistic expectations .

Progress in a PRU doesn't always happen in a straight line.

Develop Experience That Can Take Your Career Further

PRU experience can also give you an incredibly strong foundation for a career supporting children and young people.

You'll develop practical experience of SEMH, behaviour, safeguarding, de-escalation, differentiated learning, relationship-based practice and alternative education .

That experience could support future progression into areas including:

• SEMH and specialist education
• Alternative Provision
• Behaviour or pastoral support
• SEND
• Youth work
• Teaching
• Mentoring
• Family support
• Other child and adolescent services

You'll also have opportunities to undertake professional development and learn alongside experienced education professionals.

£115 Per Day | Full-Time | Oldham

This is a full-time opportunity within a Pupil Referral Unit in Oldham, Greater Manchester , paying £115 per day .

We're looking for someone who isn't intimidated by the fact that some pupils will be challenging.

Instead, you'll recognise that the young people who are hardest to reach can sometimes be the ones for whom a reliable adult relationship matters most .

If you're looking for a PRU Teaching Assistant role in Oldham and believe you have the resilience, consistency and personality to help young people reconnect with education, we'd like to hear from you.

Apply today with your CV to find out more about the role and setting.

This vacancy is advertised on Senploy, the specialist education and SEND job board. Successful applicants will be required to complete all appropriate safeguarding and safer recruitment checks before commencing work.