Learning Support Assistants

Harry Watts Academy, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 5JA

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  30 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  16 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Learning support or cover supervisor
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 33.5 hours per week, term time + 5 additional training days
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: N4 SCP 7- 9 FTE: £27,274 - £28,153 £21,204 - £21,887 actual salary pro-rata (£14.14 - £14.59 hourly rate)

What skills and experience we're looking for

This role is perfect for positive and professional individuals with:

GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) in Maths and English

Relevant transferable experience, for example: working with children in education, health or care settings

A clear understanding of the Special Needs Assistant's role

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 enthusiastic about making a difference in young people's lives?

Harry Watts Academy is looking to appoint Learning Support Assistants to join their dedicated and professional team.

This role is perfect for positive and professional individuals with:

GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) in Maths and English

Relevant transferable experience, for example: working with children in education, health or care settings

A clear understanding of the Special Needs Assistant's role

As a valued member of our team, you will:

Assist in providing classroom support duties, including curriculum related tasks under the direction of the teacher, and responding to pupil's social, emotional and physical needs

Have high expectations of pupil achievement

Be able to work constructively as part of a team

Sound like the role for you? Read on!

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

Harry Watts Academy is a specialist free school in Sunderland opened in September 2020 for autistic pupils aged between five and sixteen years. We pride ourselves on having a shared belief that all children have a right to the best education that can be provided and a learning and working environment where all are respected, valued and achievements celebrated.

Harry Watts Academy is a split site school, with locations in both Sunderland (Redhouse) and Washington (Harraton). Currently, our Engage and Explore pathways are based at Redhouse and our Discover pathway is based at Harraton. You will therefore be willing to support the teaching and learning of pupils on any of our three pathways on either of our sites.

To learn more about Harry Watts Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our 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 Harry Watts 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 Harry Watts Academy

• Organisation type: Free School, ages 5 to 16
• Size: 187 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Harry Watts Academy website
• Email address: admin@harrywattsacademy.co.uk
• Phone number: 0191 562 3003
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/harry-watts-academy

We aim to support all of our pupils to achieve and develop in all aspects of their life through our exciting and challenging whole school curriculum. Our ethos is to promote Support and Success Together and we firmly believe that knowing each pupil as an individual is a vital element in supporting their growth and development, within a carefully personalised programme of learning. We could not do this without the ongoing excellent support and joint working with families, professionals and all stakeholders associated with Harry Watts Academy.

Harry Watts Academy is a specialist academy for pupils aged 5 to 16 years. All of our pupils have a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and complex learning difficulties and a respective Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Essential to their growth is our ASC specific environment and our dedicated multi disciplinary staff team, who are highly skilled and trained in ASC specific strategies and delivery.

Our school is a community where everyone feels safe and secure, valued and respected and where we have a shared commitment to providing the very best learning opportunities possible. We have the highest expectations and aspirations for all of our learners and continually seek to develop and grow, in order to ensure that their goals, dreams and potential are realised.

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