Higher Level Support Assistant

Gilbert Ward Academy, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 2TS

11 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  23 November 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  12 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Learning support or cover supervisor
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 37 hours per week, term time + 5 additional training days
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: N6 scale point 20 - 24 FTE: £33,672 - £36,581 £28,913 - £31,410 actual salary pro-rata (£17.45 - £18.96 per hour)

What skills and experience we're looking for

This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual who:

Has 5 GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) including Maths and English

Has NVQ Level 4 DfE recognised Teaching Assistant SEND Assistant, EYFS or Childcare qualification or higher qualification with relevant experience

Has training in relevant learning strategies and specialist knowledge in particular curriculum areas

Is a supportive and co-operative team member with a flexible approach

Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills

What the school offers its staff

The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:

A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another

Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group

Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates

Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace

Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)

Bike 2 Work scheme

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Are you seeking a new role?

We are looking to appoint an exceptional HLSA to join our strong, dedicated teaching team. As a Higher Level Support Assistant, you will plan and deliver lessons across the school to cover teacher PPA time, support with our integrate pathway while also leading targeted group and individual pupil interventions . What matters most is finding the right person with the values, skills, and passion to make a real difference for our pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual who:

Has 5 GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) including Maths and English

Has NVQ Level 4 DfE recognised Teaching Assistant SEND Assistant, EYFS or Childcare qualification or higher qualification with relevant experience

Has training in relevant learning strategies and specialist knowledge in particular curriculum areas

Is a supportive and co-operative team member with a flexible approach

Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Please refer to the attached job description and person spec for full details of the requirements of the role.

As a valued member of our team, you will:

Be in a highly supportive and skilled staff team who share expertise across the Trust

Have tailored professional development opportunities to support subject teaching and career progression

The chance to make a meaningful difference at a growing, values-driven academy

Does this sound like the role for you?

Gilbert Ward Academy, part of Prosper Learning Trust, opened in September 2023 and has now grown to full capacity with 80 pupils across all year groups. This is a very exciting phase in our journey: having successfully built and grown the school, we are now embedding our practice and continuing to make excellent progress.

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we deliver our curriculum through four needs-led pathways: Integrate, Engage, Explore and Discover. All pupils access the same curriculum, but delivery is adapted to meet individual needs. Pupils are allocated to a pathway based on their personal profile, and movement between pathways is fluid to ensure provision remains responsive and supportive.

As part of Prosper Learning Trust, which supports five specialist schools in the North East, we share a commitment to empowering vulnerable young people to succeed.

Visits to the school are encouraged to share our vision and discuss the role. To arrange a visit or request a confidential conversation, please email admin@gilbertwardacademy.co.uk.

To learn more about Gilbert Ward Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit the websites.

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:

Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)

Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)

Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)

Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)

Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Gilbert Ward Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:

A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another

Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group

Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates

Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace

Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)

Bike 2 Work scheme

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think.

The successful candidate will be welcomed into the Trust, so if this sounds like the role for you, please don't hesitate to apply.

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Gilbert Ward Academy

• Organisation type: Free School, ages 11 to 16
• Size: 83 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Gilbert Ward Academy website
• Email address: admin@gilbertwardacademy.co.uk
• Phone number: 01670 293193
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/gilbert-ward-academy

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