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Job Title: Higher Level Teaching Assistant
Location: Red Kite School, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 0JW
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Salary: Up to £26,375 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: January 2027
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
you're an experienced HLTA with a strong understanding of SEMH, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.
At Red Kite School, we're looking for an ambitious, resilient and compassionate Higher Level Teaching Assistant to join our specialist team and play a key role in helping young people overcome barriers, rediscover their confidence and achieve things they may not have believed were possible.
This isn't a role where you'll simply support from the sidelines.
You'll have the opportunity to lead learning, deliver lessons and interventions, cover classes, mentor colleagues and become a trusted adult for pupils who need consistency, understanding and someone who believes in them.
You'll work within a nurturing, therapeutic and trauma-informed environment, alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral professionals. Together, you'll provide the structure, encouragement and relationships that enable pupils with SEMH needs to engage in education and make meaningful progress.
If you're an HLTA who enjoys having responsibility, thrives in a specialist environment and wants your work to have a genuine impact on young people's futures, we'd love to hear from you.
What you will be doing:
- Deliver engaging lessons, interventions and planned learning activities, including providing class cover when required.
- Support pupils with SEMH needs to overcome barriers to learning and achieve their individual goals.
- Use trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches to support emotional regulation, positive behaviour and engagement.
- Adapt learning and approaches to meet individual needs and ensure every pupil can participate and succeed.
- Monitor and assess pupil progress, providing clear feedback and contributing to personalised learning and support plans.
- Build strong, consistent and trusting relationships with pupils, acting as a positive role model and trusted adult.
- Mentor and support Teaching Assistants, sharing your knowledge and helping to develop excellent classroom practice.
- Work closely with teachers, therapists, pastoral colleagues, families and external professionals to provide joined-up support.
- Contribute to a calm, structured and inclusive learning environment where pupils feel safe, valued and ready to learn.
What you will bring:
We're looking for someone who can combine strong classroom practice with patience, resilience and a genuine understanding of SEMH.
- A recognised Level 3 HLTA qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.
- GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent.
- Previous experience working with pupils with SEMH needs, ideally within a specialist, alternative provision or similar setting.
- Confidence delivering lessons, leading interventions and taking responsibility for groups of pupils.
- A strong understanding of SEMH, trauma-informed practice and positive behaviour support.
- The ability to build positive relationships with young people who may have experienced significant barriers to education.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- A genuine belief that every young person can make progress when given the right support, relationships and opportunities.
About Us
Red Kite School is an independent special school for up to 60 young people aged 11–18 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
Opened in September 2024, the school is located in the beautiful market town of Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. We provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where every young person is understood, valued and encouraged to thrive.
Our experienced team creates a calm, structured environment where pupils build confidence, resilience and achieve positive outcomes through personalised learning, high expectations and strong relationships.
Our curriculum develops the knowledge, emotional resilience, social communication and life skills pupils need to succeed in education, their communities and beyond, helping every young person become a confident learner, responsible citizen and prepared for their future.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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