Specialist Teaching Assistant
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
These schools are passionate about providing high-quality education and personalised support, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed both academically and personally.
We're looking for adaptable and dedicated individuals who can build positive relationships and provide tailored support to pupils who need it most.
What you'll be doing• Supporting pupils with SEND in classroom and intervention settings
• Providing 1:1 and small group support tailored to individual needs
• Working closely with teachers, SENDCOs and external professionals
• Supporting pupil engagement, behaviour and emotional wellbeing
• Assisting with the delivery of interventions and learning activities
• Helping pupils develop confidence, independence and resilience
• Experience working with children or young people in education, care or support settings
• A genuine passion for supporting pupils with additional needs
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• A flexible and professional approach
• Willingness to travel to schools across Sunderland and the surrounding areas
• A driving licence and access to a vehicle is beneficial but not essential
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply)
• Weekly PAYE pay
• Ongoing support from a consultant who genuinely cares
• Free CPD and online training opportunities
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 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.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
⭐ Lead your CV personal statement with direct SEND experience — the advert lists it first under requirements, so place it prominently above your work history.
📊 Quantify your support experience: e.g. 'Delivered 1:1 interventions for 6 pupils with autism and ADHD across 3 year groups, contributing to a 20% improvement in engagement scores'.
🎯 Explicitly mention your enhanced DBS status and whether you are subscribed to the Update Service — this is flagged as essential and will speed up your application.
🤝 Reference collaboration with SENDCOs and external professionals (e.g. speech therapists, educational psychologists) as the advert specifically names these stakeholders.
🌐 Note any CPD or safeguarding training you have completed (e.g. Prevent Duty, Team Teach, Makaton) as Protocol Education highlights free CPD and values ongoing professional development.
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Delivered daily 1:1 and small group SEND interventions for 8 pupils aged 7–14 with autism, ADHD and speech and language needs, contributing to a 25% improvement in on-task behaviour over one term.
- •Collaborated with the SENDCO and two external speech therapists to implement and review individual support plans for 5 pupils, ensuring targets were updated termly in line with EHCP outcomes.
- •Maintained enhanced DBS registration on the Update Service and completed annual safeguarding refresher training in accordance with DfE 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance across 3 consecutive academic years.
Free to copy — tailoring requires a 30-sec CV upload.
Your cover letter is ready
We've drafted a cover letter for Protocol Education. Preview the opening, then unlock the full personalised version.
Letter preview — tailored to Protocol Education
Dear Hiring Manager,
Protocol Education's work placing Specialist Teaching Assistants in inclusive schools across Sunderland aligns directly with my experience supporting pupils with SEND through 1:1 intervention and small group work. Having delivered tailored learning support in classroom and withdrawal settings, I understand the importance of building trust with pupils whose additional needs require consistent, personalised approaches — precisely what your partner schools are seeking.
My background in working alongside SENDCOs, class teachers and external professionals has equipped me to contribute meaningfully from day one. I hold an enhanced DBS registered on the Update Service and have completed safeguarding training in line with the DfE's 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance. I am committed to ongoing CPD and would welcome the free training opportunities Protocol Education provides to its workers.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How do you adapt your support strategies for pupils with different types of SEND, such as autism versus ADHD?
- ›What approaches do you use when delivering 1:1 interventions to a pupil who is disengaged or refusing to participate?
- ›How do you record and communicate a pupil's progress to the class teacher and SENDCO?
- ›What safeguarding procedures would you follow if a pupil disclosed something concerning to you during a session?
- ›Describe your experience supporting pupils with emotional and behavioural difficulties — what specific strategies have you used?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you built a positive relationship with a pupil who was initially resistant to support.
- ›Describe a situation where you had to adapt your approach mid-session because a pupil's needs changed unexpectedly.
- ›Give an example of when you worked closely with a teacher or SENDCO to develop a tailored support plan.
- ›Tell me about a time you supported a pupil through a challenging emotional episode — what did you do and what was the outcome?
- ›Describe a situation where you had to manage your time across multiple pupils or settings in a single day.
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you built a positive relationship with a pupil who was initially resistant to support.
Describe a situation where you had to adapt your approach mid-session because a pupil's needs changed unexpectedly.