Higher Level Teaching Assistant - HLTA

Ridgefield Primary School, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 3RL

29 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  30 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  1 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £29,542.00 - £31,015.00 Annually (FTE)

Higher Level Teaching Assistant - HLTA job summary

Higher Level Teaching Assistant

31.25 hours per week - 8.30 am - 3.15 pm

Salary scale - NJC points 12 - 15 (£29,542 - £31,015 FTE)

Term Time - 39 weeks/Permanent

Required - ASAP

Ridgefield Primary School is looking for an enthusiastic, experienced and nurturing Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to join our friendly and committed team.

We are a small, one-form-entry primary school in Cambridge, with approximately 210 pupils, alongside a 26-place nursery. Our staff are committed to making learning fun, exciting and purposeful, and we value collaboration, professional development and sharing good practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HLTA who is confident taking responsibility for learning sessions, supporting pupils with a range of needs and contributing positively to classroom practice across the school.

About the role:

You will work closely with class teachers and the senior leadership team to support high-quality teaching and learning. Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering planned curriculum activities for whole classes, small groups and individual pupils.
• Providing class cover for PPA, sickness and other planned absences.
• Planning and preparing lessons and resources in collaboration with teachers.
• Leading targeted interventions, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics.
• Supporting pupils with SEND and EAL to access the curriculum and develop their independence.
• Providing clear and constructive feedback to pupils and contributing to assessment and progress monitoring.
• Supporting the implementation of positive behaviour and inclusion strategies in line with school policy.
• Building positive relationships with pupils, staff, parents and external professionals.
• Using your specialist skills, training and experience to support pupil learning, wellbeing and independence.
• Mentoring and supporting teaching assistants during whole-class and group sessions.
• Contributing to staff development and the sharing of effective practice.
• Participating in training, CPD, school meetings and the wider life of the school.
• Taking an active role in contributing to the continued development of teaching and learning across the school.

A Forest School qualification or experience as a Forest School practitioner would be desirable.

About you:

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified HLTA or has an equivalent professional qualification and relevant experience
• Has strong classroom experience across more than one year group and is confident adapting teaching and learning to meet different pupil needs.
• Has experience planning and leading teaching and learning activities.
• Has a good understanding of how to meet a range of learning needs and support inclusion.
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Has a high standard of spoken and written English.
• Has strong literacy and numeracy skills, including GCSEs or equivalent in English and Mathematics.
• Builds warm, trusting relationships with children, parents and colleagues.
• Has high expectations for pupils and is committed to helping every child achieve their potential.
• Uses initiative and is well organised, adaptable and reliable.
• Works effectively as part of a team while being confident working independently.
• Is reflective and committed to continuing professional development.
• Is committed to the aims and ethos of our school.

We can offer you

• A friendly, supportive and collaborative team of staff and governors.
• Enthusiastic children who enjoy taking part in school life.
• High-quality professional development and opportunities to learn alongside colleagues.
• A school committed to safeguarding, wellbeing, inclusion and high standards of education.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to pupils' learning, progress and independence.
• A welcoming and supportive school community.

Interested?

Candidates are warmly invited to discuss the position with us and are encouraged to visit the school.

To arrange a visit, please contact the school office in the first instance at office@ridgefield.cambs.sch.uk.

Please apply via My New Term:

At Ridgefield Primary School we welcome our duties under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations. As part of our safer recruitment process, the school will undertake all appropriate pre-employment, safeguarding, online and background checks for shortlisted candidates and successful applicants, in accordance with statutory requirements, Keeping Children Safe in Education and the school's recruitment procedures.

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 Ridgefield Primary School

• Organisation type: Local authority maintained school, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• Size: 205 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Ridgefield Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/ridgefield-primary-school

Ridgefield is a wonderful community based school on the outskirts of Cambridge, with excellent transport links to the A14 and A11, the main Cambridge train station is only a short walk away.

School location

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