Higher Level Teaching Assistant (SEND)

Danecourt School, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 6AA

32 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  31 October 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  29 September 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £23,373.10 - £30,411.43 Annually (Actual) Grade C2 ( Point 12 - 25) £23,373.10 - £30,411.43 (Actual) + SEN Allowance £1539 (Actual)

Higher Level Teaching Assistant (SEND) job summary

Join Danecout School as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA)!

From supporting to leading — a hands-on role where you’ll help every child thrive!

Hours: 37 hours per week (8:30 - 4.30 am Mon - Thurs; 8:30 - 4:00 Fri) Contract: Permanent Time Time Only: 39 weeks per year Start Date: ASAP Actual Salary: Grade C2 ( Point 12 - 25) £23,373.10 - £30,411.43 (Actual) + SEN Allowance £1539 (Actual)

Are you passionate about supporting students with special educational needs and helping them thrive? We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to join our dedicated team at Danecourt School, where every day brings new opportunities to make a meaningful difference in the lives of our pupils.

About the Role

As an HLTA at Danecourt, you will play a vital role in delivering exceptional learning experiences, working alongside a skilled teaching team to:

• Lead learning activities for individuals, small groups, or whole classes under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

• Support the planning, preparation, and delivery of engaging lessons tailored to meet the unique needs of our students.

• Monitor and assess pupil progress, ensuring every child reaches their full potential.

• Take initiative and lead the classroom in the teacher's absence and during teacher PPA time, ensuring continuity and consistency in learning.

• Working collaboratively with class teams, therapists and the SENDCo to embed tailored strategies

• Championing inclusion, emotional regulation, and pupil voice throughout the school day

An HLTA qualification is desirable but not essential. What matters most is your ability to demonstrate leadership in the classroom, your passion for helping students succeed, and your commitment to enhancing their educational journey.

Who you Are

We’re looking for someone who:

• Passionate about teaching and committed to giving children the best possible learning experiences.

• HLTA status or equivalent experience (Level 4 or above desirable)

• Experience delivering whole-class teaching, ideally in a SEND or inclusive setting

• Confidence in supporting children with complex needs, including communication and sensory processing differences

• Skilled in delivering targeted intervention programmes, particularly in communication, literacy, and numeracy

• Strong interpersonal skills — able to build positive relationships with pupils, families, and colleagues

• A team player who’s passionate about making learning accessible, inclusive, and engaging

• Eager to develop their skills and knowledge, with a desire to grow within the role.

• Excellent at managing time and prioritizing tasks to ensure the smooth running of the classroom.

What We Offer

Danecourt offers a welcoming and inclusive environment where support staff are valued as key members of the team. As part of the Maritime Academy Trust, we offer meaningful career opportunities, collaborative working, and the chance to help pupils with SEND thrive.

Here’s what you can expect:

• A supportive, team-based culture, where collaboration is key across classrooms and satellite provisions

• Work-Life Balance role, you’ll benefit from the same school holiday schedule, giving you more time to focus on your well-being and enjoy a healthy work-life balance

• Clear development pathways, including opportunities to move from HLTA to teacher through our ‘grow our own’ approach or other specialist roles

• Access to specialist facilities, therapy support, outdoor learning spaces, and sensory playrooms that enrich the learning experience

• Access to regular training, including weekly CPD for support staff to build confidence and expertise

• Involvement in innovation, with the chance to contribute to the Maritime Outreach Support Service

• A strong sense of purpose, where your contribution directly impacts pupil progress, confidence and wellbeing

• Personalised learning plans tailored to meet each pupil’s specific needs

• Join a school that is proud to be the Winner of the Primary Special School Provision category at the Medway Parents and Carers Forum SEND Awards.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We’d love to welcome you for a visit — come and see what makes Danecourt so special. Please contact the school office on 01634 232589 to arrange.

You’ll find more about the role, school, and Trust in the Candidate Information Pack attached. Apply now via My New Term — we may interview and appoint as applications are received, so don’t delay!

Danecourt School and the Maritime Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We embrace diversity and equal opportunity, striving to build a team that reflects a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The more inclusive we are, the stronger we become. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and online checks in line with the latest safeguarding guidance.

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

Maritime Academy Trust is committed to recruiting with care and safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.

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 Danecourt School

• School type: Academy, ages 4 to 11
• School size: 257 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Danecourt School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/danecourt-school

Danecourt is a special school catering for primary aged children who have special educational needs. The school caters for children with a wide breadth of need including complex learning difficulties, autism and social emotional mental health needs.

At Danecourt our mission is to provide all pupils with a “stimulating learning environment that allows children to explore through a personalised curriculum to become STARS!

Self reliant Team Player Aspirational Resilient Successful

The highly trained staff teams maintain high expectations of what each individual pupil is able to achieve, striving to ensure that they all achieve their maximum potential; celebrating difference and encouraging curiosity and creativity. Staff work collaboratively with families and a range of other agencies in order to meet the pupils needs and as a result, they make strong progress academically, emotionally and socially. Pupil achievement is hugely valued and celebrated in a manner that is meaningful and appropriate for each pupil.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Gillingham and Kent and Medway