Behaviour Support Assistant - PRU

Some pupils just need the right adult beside them, someone calm, patient and consistent who believes they can succeed, even on the tough days.

We’re working with a Pupil Referral Unit in Hartlepool that is looking for a Behaviour Support Assistant to join their team. This is a role where connection matters, trust takes time to build, and the smallest breakthroughs can make the biggest difference.

The provision supports pupils with SEMH needs and behavioural challenges, so they’re looking for someone who can stay calm under pressure, build genuine relationships and provide the structure pupils need to feel safe and ready to learn.

The role

As a Behaviour Support Assistant, you’ll work closely with pupils both one-to-one and in small groups, helping them stay engaged with learning and supporting them to manage their behaviour and emotions in a positive way.

You’ll play a key role in creating a predictable, supportive environment where pupils feel understood and encouraged. Working alongside teachers and pastoral staff, you’ll help implement behaviour strategies and personalised plans that support both learning and personal development.

What you’ll be doing

Supporting pupils with SEMH needs and behavioural challenges

Working 1:1 with pupils who need additional guidance and support

Using calm and consistent approaches to de-escalate challenging situations

Encouraging pupils to develop coping strategies, confidence and resilience

Supporting behaviour plans and personalised learning approaches

Working collaboratively with teaching and pastoral teams to improve engagement

What we’re looking for

Experience in a PRU, alternative provision, or SEN/SEMH setting is highly desirable

Backgrounds in youth work, care, coaching or education are also valued

Confidence managing challenging behaviour

A calm, patient and resilient mindset

Someone who genuinely wants to make a difference

Thrive Training

Not Thrive trained yet? That’s absolutely fine.

Protocol Education offers free Thrive training, helping you develop deeper behaviour support skills and strengthening your profile with specialist knowledge that schools value, especially in PRU settings.

If you’re looking for a role where every small step forward matters, we’d love to hear from you.

Visit or email 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.

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