Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Stratton School, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JB

21 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  6 April 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  13 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £24,019.00 - £26,928.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 7, Point 12-19

Higher Level Teaching Assistant job summary

Vacancy for Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Salary: Meridian Trust Grade 7, Points 12-19

Hours: 37 hours

We are looking for an enthusiastic person who would like to join our friendly and hardworking team as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant. This is an exciting opportunity for a capable and experienced teaching assistant who is able to provide high quality, valuable one-to-one support to SEND children and contribute to their continued development.

You will be working under the direction of the class teacher and SENDCo to:

• Plan and deliver practical support and advice to vulnerable children and their families.
• Provide valuable support to children academic, therapeutic and pastoral needs.
• Ensure the welfare of children attending the school, particularly focusing on children with SENDV.
• Oversee the SEN register, providing support for children with ASD, EHCPS and SEND.
• Lead valuable training sessions for support staff to raise awareness of SEND and current practices.
• Responsible for line-managing a team of ELAS’s.

The ideal candidate:

• Is confident and resilient, patient and nurturing and who wants to help us to support our pupils to thrive and develop into successful young people.
• Demonstrates excellent classroom practice with high standards of teaching and learning.
• Experience supporting SEND children in a classroom environment.
• Can act on their own initiative.
• Is qualified to NVQ Level 3 for Teaching Assistants/HLTA qualification or equivalent or is willing to work towards this qualification.
• Is a good team player who is willing to contribute to the ethos and wider community of the academy.
• Is motivated, passionate, and reflective about their work.
• Demonstrates an understanding of child protection and safeguarding issues.

About Meridian Trust -

Meridian Trust is a values-led organisation formed in 2011 that has risen to be one of the highest-performing academy trusts in the country. The Trust is founded on its commitment to a high-quality educational provision for all at the heart of local communities. Meridian currently operates primary, secondary and special schools across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

Meridian Trust offers a wealth of fantastic benefits for teaching and support staff which are highlighted below but are not limited to -

• Apprenticeship and CPD opportunities which allow you to gain specialist knowledge in a role you are passionate about developing in
• Opportunity to jump start your career in teaching through our dedicated Initial Teacher Training Team (ITT)
• Support for mental health and wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and other resources
• Cycle to work scheme
• Defined benefit local government or Teacher’s pension scheme
• Healthcare benefits including free eye test vouchers and flu vaccinations
• Free on-site parking
• Discounts on a wide range of benefits from everyday essentials to holidays

To explore our full range of benefits, please visit https://www.meridiantrust.co.uk/jobs-and-training/benefits/.

For more information about the role please download the Applicant Information Pack below.

Closing date for applications: 06/04/2026

Interviews will be held on: w/c 13/04/2026

Meridian Trust reserves the right to close the applications early in the event that a suitable candidate is sourced. Applications will be reviewed as received so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

The Trust is committed to diversity and inclusion and equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments will be subject to pre-employment checks, including an enhanced check with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS), as well as online searches.

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.

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

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Stratton School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 986 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Stratton School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/stratton-upper-school

Stratton is a thriving Secondary School with around 1,000 students on roll. We will be very pleased to share our April Ofsted 2025 report with the community in due course!

Our school has grown considerably in recent years; it is popular with the local community and includes over 200 students in the Sixth Form. In many respects we are a true comprehensive school with a full ability range. Our students are our best advertisement, although closely followed by the dedication of our staff.

We are proud to be apart of the Meridian Trust and embody their values.

School location

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