Graduate Roles in Schools in North East

Just graduated and wondering what’s next, but not quite ready to jump straight into a classroom or office job? Working as a 1:1 SEND Support Assistant could be the perfect place to start. At Protocol Education, we work closely with schools across Durham, including Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Bishop Auckland, Seaham, Peterlee and the surrounding areas, placing graduates into rewarding SEND support roles where they make a real difference every single day.

This is hands‑on, meaningful work. You’ll be supporting a pupil on a one‑to‑one basis, helping them feel safe, understood and confident in school. Some days that means helping with learning, other days it’s about being a calm, consistent presence who helps a child regulate their emotions and access the school day. You’ll build strong relationships, celebrate small wins, and leave knowing your work genuinely mattered.

Lots of our graduates choose SEND support because it’s an incredible stepping stone into teaching, educational psychology, speech and language therapy or wider SEND and pastoral careers. You’ll gain first‑hand experience of working with additional needs, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and school systems, experience that looks brilliant on applications and gives you clarity about your next step.

Why Protocol Education? Because we don’t just place you and disappear. You’ll have a dedicated consultant who listens, checks in, and matches you with schools that suit you. You’ll be paid weekly through PAYE, have access to free CPD and SEND training, and get honest guidance from people who know local schools inside out. We also offer free Thrive training, which schools really value and which helps you feel confident supporting pupils’ emotional needs.

The roles are term‑time only so your evenings, weekends and school holidays are your own. It’s full‑on during the day, but it comes with balance, structure and a real sense of purpose, something many graduates are looking for.

If you want a role that feels rewarding, builds your experience and opens doors into education or psychology, this could be the one.

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.