Higher Level Teaching Assistant - Pastoral
Bishopswood School, Reading, RG4 9RH8 days remaining to apply
Start date details
TBC upon successful completion of safer recruitment checks
Closing date
28 November 2025 at 9am
Date listed
20 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- HLTA (higher level teaching assistant)
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £25,872.03-£28,010.38 + Fringe Allowance £729
Higher Level Teaching Assistant - Pastoral job summary
‘..Make a Difference Every Day....’
Hawthorn Academy is seeking a skilled, confident and motivated Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to support and lead learning for pupils aged 11–16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. This is a key role within our school, ideal for someone ready to take the next step and support high-quality teaching, intervention and behaviour support.
Hawthorn Academy is part of The Propeller Academy Trust and provides a nurturing, trauma-informed environment for pupils with SEMH needs. Our staff are dedicated, compassionate and committed to helping every young person grow emotionally, socially and academically. We offer a supportive, highly resourced setting where you can develop professionally and make a real impact.
What we Offer
- Competitive salary + £729 Fringe Allowance
- Full induction programme and ongoing SEMH and trauma informed training
- Paid wellbeing days, free flu vaccinations and on-site parking
- Flexible working options (part-time or job share considered)
- Local Government Pension (LGPS)
- Employee assistance programme
- Refer-a-friend scheme (earn up to £500)
- Supportive, highly skilled staff team and therapeutic school culture
About the Role
- Lead learning for individuals, small groups and occasionally full classes
- Deliver planned lessons and interventions in areas such as English, maths, life skills and vocational subjects
- Support pupils with SEMH needs using trauma-informed, restorative and relational approaches
- Work closely with teachers to plan, adapt and deliver targeted support
- Model high-quality behaviour support and emotional regulation strategies
- Build trusting, positive relationships with pupils to help them feel safe, valued and motivated
- Support assessment, planning and progress monitoring
- Contribute to a positive, structured and therapeutic learning environment
About you
- GCSE English and maths (Grade 4/C or equivalent)
- HLTA status (or willingness to work towards it)
- Strong experience supporting children or young people, ideally in a secondary or SEMH setting
- Confident delivering learning and managing small groups or whole-class sessions
- Calm, patient and emotionally resilient
- Skilled at de-escalation, relational practice and trauma-informed approaches (training provided)
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Passionate about helping young people overcome barriers and thrive
How to Apply
To apply for this rewarding opportunity, please Apply online. Early applications are strongly encouraged.
To arrange a visit or to find out more, please contact the School Business Manager, on 0118 359 2449.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
The Propeller Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.
This role involves a high level of contact with children or vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check (including Barred List where applicable) and online searches for publicly available information.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status or pregnancy/maternity.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Bishopswood School
- School type
- Academy, ages 2 to 16
- School size
- 74 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Bishopswood School website
Bishopswood is a community special school in South Oxfordshire that provides specialist education for children aged 4 – 16 years with severe (SLD) or profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD) and complex needs, including those children with ASD. We are a school that prides itself in providing innovative learning techniques to meet the wide-ranging needs of our pupils.
With an inclusive ethos Bishopswood endeavours to provide specialist provision alongside its co-located mainstream partners on two sites.; our main primary department which is co-located with Sonning Common primary school and Bishopswood’s secondary provision at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge School, Sonning Common.
As a small but strong community of people we are committed to providing outstanding teaching and learning for our pupils which is achieved by working in close partnership with our families, professionals, governors and the wider community to deliver a tailored and inclusive education for every pupil.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Quick Apply
St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Yew Tree Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 2AR
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Reading