Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) – SEND Alternative Provision
PLEASE NOTE: We are currently unable to offer sponsorship or sponsorship swaps.
DRIVERS ESSENTIAL – You must hold a full UK driving licence, have access to your own vehicle and have business-use insurance.
Job Summary
We are an Alternative Provision in Gloucester, supporting children and young people aged 4 to 25 with a wide range of needs, including SEND, SEMH, learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that may challenge.
Many of the young people we support have not thrived within mainstream or traditional specialist education settings and require a much more individualised approach to learning.
We are not currently a registered school; however, we are working towards becoming an independent school. This makes it an exciting time to join our Education Team and play an important role in shaping how our provision continues to develop.
We are also very different from a mainstream school.
Our young people are generally supported on a 1:1 or 2:1 basis rather than learning within traditional classrooms. Education is built around the individual young person's EHCP, assessed needs, outcomes, abilities and interests.
As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with our Teacher and wider Education Team to turn individual learning plans into meaningful, engaging learning experiences.
You will take a lead role in delivering learning, modelling good practice to Teaching Assistants, supporting assessment and progress monitoring, and helping ensure that the education delivered across the provision is purposeful, consistent and genuinely individualised.
This is a role for someone who is confident working independently, comfortable taking responsibility and able to support and guide other Teaching Assistants while remaining part of a wider multidisciplinary team.
What you'll be doing
Your responsibilities will include:
- Delivering high-quality individual and small-group learning activities based on agreed learning plans and targets.
- Working closely with the Teacher to understand each young person's EHCP outcomes, learning needs and educational priorities.
- Supporting the planning and adaptation of learning activities to meet individual needs, abilities and interests.
- Taking a lead role in modelling effective educational practice to Teaching Assistants.
- Supporting and guiding Teaching Assistants in delivering planned learning activities confidently and consistently.
- Leading learning sessions independently where appropriate.
- Providing cover and additional educational leadership within the provision when required.
- Observing, assessing and recording young people's progress against agreed learning outcomes.
- Providing feedback to the Teacher and wider Education Team to support future planning and target-setting.
- Reviewing young people's work and celebrating progress in a way that is appropriate to their individual abilities.
- Supporting the collection of evidence for EHCP reviews, professional meetings and progress reports.
- Contributing to EHCP reviews and other professional meetings where appropriate.
- Supporting young people to develop communication, independence, functional, social and academic skills.
- Supporting young people to access learning through play, practical activities, community experiences, sensory approaches and individual interests.
- Helping identify barriers to learning and emerging SEND needs.
- Supporting the development and organisation of appropriate educational resources.
- Ensuring reasonable adjustments are implemented effectively.
- Maintaining accurate education, progress and safeguarding records.
- Working collaboratively with families, education professionals, social care professionals and other agencies.
- Supporting new and less experienced Teaching Assistants to develop their confidence and practice.
- Contributing to curriculum development, quality assurance and continuous improvement across the provision.
- Supporting our journey towards becoming an independent school.
- Travelling between our provisions where required.
The reality of working in our provision
We want to be upfront about what joining us looks like.
Our young people haven't necessarily thrived within traditional education. Their needs can be complex, and some may experience significant dysregulation or behaviours that challenge.
Building relationships and finding the right way for an individual young person to engage can take time, creativity, patience and resilience.
You will not necessarily spend your day sitting in a classroom supporting a Teacher delivering a traditional lesson.
One young person might be developing literacy through a structured activity in our library. Another may be developing communication and turn-taking through gaming. Someone else might be learning independence skills in the kitchen, accessing the community or working towards an EHCP outcome through an activity linked to one of their interests.
Progress won't always look like completing a worksheet or achieving an academic grade.
Sometimes progress is a young person remaining engaged for five minutes longer than before, communicating a choice independently, tolerating a new environment, developing a life skill or successfully attempting something they have previously avoided.
You will need to be able to recognise that progress, capture it properly and help the wider team understand how everyday experiences can become meaningful learning opportunities.
What we're looking for
We're looking for someone who:
- Can work flexibly between 8:00am to 6:00pm, 3-4 days per week.
- Holds a full UK driving licence and has access to their own vehicle with business-use insurance.
- Holds an appropriate HLTA qualification, Level 3 education qualification or equivalent relevant qualification/experience.
- Has strong experience working as a Teaching Assistant, HLTA or within a similar education role.
- Has experience supporting children or young people with SEND, SEMH or complex additional needs.
- Has a good understanding of EHCPs and individualised education.
- Understands that learning and progress can look very different for children and young people with complex needs.
- Is confident delivering learning activities independently.
- Is able to adapt activities and approaches when something isn't working.
- Is confident supporting, guiding and modelling good practice to other Teaching Assistants.
- Has strong written communication and record-keeping skills.
- Can contribute effectively to assessment and progress monitoring.
- Is confident working collaboratively with Teachers, families and other professionals.
- Is patient, adaptable and able to remain calm during challenging situations.
- Is comfortable supporting young people who may display behaviours that challenge.
- Can maintain clear professional boundaries while developing positive and trusting relationships.
- Has a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people who may have struggled within traditional education.
- Can travel between provisions where required.
Previous experience within an Alternative Provision, SEND school, specialist education setting or similar environment would be advantageous, but the right values, experience and approach are equally important to us.
Who are we?
First Thought Care Services was established in 2020 by Jack, who experienced significant challenges within the education and care system himself as a child. Those experiences shaped his determination to create the type of service he felt was missing.
Our Gloucester provision has been developed to give children and young people different opportunities to engage, learn and progress.
Our facilities include an IT suite, games room, library, independence kitchen and sensory spaces, alongside opportunities to learn through community-based activities, practical experiences and individual interests.
We're proud that we're different, but we're also upfront about what that means.
Every day can look different.
What worked with a young person yesterday might not work today. You will need to be flexible, patient, creative and resilient while maintaining professional boundaries and ensuring the young person's safety, wellbeing and educational outcomes remain at the centre of what you do.
As an HLTA, we will also expect you to be someone other members of the education team can look to for guidance, consistency and good practice.
What we offer
- Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications
- Workplace pension
- Bespoke induction and ongoing training
- Team Teach training
- Scheduled INSET and team-building days
- Career development and qualification opportunities
- Opportunities to progress as our Education provision continues to grow
- Early-pay access
- Statutory sick pay
- Employee recognition scheme
- Bike to Work Scheme
- Travel expenses between branches
- Monthly Employee Raffle – with prizes ranging from smaller treats to holidays abroad
- Annual Christmas party
- Access to our optional Perks scheme, including a 24/7 private GP, mental health support and retail discounts, with benefits available to your household too
- The opportunity to help shape our provision as we work towards becoming an independent school
Could you help us do education differently?
We're not looking for someone who simply wants to sit alongside a young person and help them complete worksheets.
We're looking for an HLTA who can understand why a young person is learning something, recognise what meaningful progress looks like for them and find creative ways of helping them achieve it.
You'll work alongside our Teacher and Education Team, but you'll also have the confidence to take ownership of learning sessions, guide Teaching Assistants and help maintain high educational standards across the provision.
Most importantly, you'll understand that education does not have to look the same for every child.
If that sounds like the kind of education you believe in, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today, or get in touch with us to find out more about the provision and the role.
First Thought Care Services Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, young people and vulnerable adults we support. Appointment will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks, satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
Schedule:
3-4 days per week
8:00am–6:00pm
Term-time
Pay:
£29,500-£30,000 (52 week FTE)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- HLTA, Level 3 Teaching Assistant or equivalent qualification/experience (required)
Work Location: In person
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £29,500.00-£30,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free or subsidised travel
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Referral programme
- Store discount
Experience:
- Teaching Assistant: 2 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- HLTA Qualification and/or relevant experience (required)
Work Location: In person
