Teaching Assistant with Occupational Therapy Background

Some pupils need more than classroom support. They need someone who understands movement, sensory needs, and how small adjustments can unlock big progress. We’re working with a primary school in North Shields to find a Teaching Assistant with an occupational therapy background or strong experience supporting children with physical or sensory needs. This is a hands-on role supporting pupils who benefit from structured, therapeutic support during the school day.

If you’ve worked as an OT assistant, therapy support worker, or TA with strong sensory integration knowledge, this could be a brilliant fit.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting pupils with physical, sensory or developmental needs in the classroom
• Implementing occupational therapy strategies recommended by therapists
• Helping pupils with fine motor skills, sensory regulation, and independence
• Working closely with teachers, SENCO and external professionals
• Supporting learning activities while keeping pupils regulated and engaged

This isn’t a sit-at-the-back TA role. You’ll be actively helping pupils access learning in ways that work for them.

What we’re looking for:

• Background in Occupational Therapy, OT Assistant work, or therapy support
• Experience supporting children with SEND in a school or clinical setting
• Strong understanding of sensory regulation and motor skill development
• Calm, patient approach and confident communication
• A genuine interest in helping children succeed in the classroom

About the School:

Located in North Shields and rated Good by Ofsted, this primary school is known for its strong pastoral care and focus on helping every child feel safe, included and ready to learn. Inspectors have highlighted strong behaviour, positive attitudes and a supportive learning environment. There is a high number of pupils with SEND, and for someone with an occupational therapy background, it’s the sort of setting where your expertise can genuinely shape a child’s day.

What you’ll get through Protocol Education:

• Weekly pay through PAYE, no umbrella companies
• Free CPD through our online academy
• Ongoing support from a dedicated consultant
• Opportunities across mainstream and SEND settings
• Referral scheme for recommending friends

If you’ve got therapy experience and want to bring those skills into a primary classroom, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today or get in touch to find out more.

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.