Level 3 SEND Learning Assistant

Discovery Special Academy, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS5 7YN

18 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  6 July 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  18 June 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time: Hours: 37 hours per week, term time only + 2 week (5 x PD days and 1 week of holiday club) Monday to Friday
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: NJC point 12 – 15

What skills and experience we're looking for

About the role we are looking to appoint:

Discovery Special Academy is seeking to appoint a pro-active, enthusiastic, energetic and reliable Level 3 Teaching Assistant to join the Tees Valley Education Trust. This position would be to work with children from nursery to Year 11 with complex learning, sensory, communication and behaviour needs. Experience working with children with significant sensory and behaviour needs is required. As a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, you will work alongside the class teacher, helping pupils to get the most out of their learning and supporting individuals or groups of pupils.

You will be contributing to and participating in the team working ethos of the provision whilst maintaining its core values by:

• supporting families to ensure that their children attend school regularly and make good progress;
• supporting children to be kept safe and work positively with a range of stakeholders to protect children;
• and enabling children to be successful through supporting excellent attitudes towards learning and behaviour.

What we are looking for: We are looking for people who have experience of working with children with complex SEND, are interested in their development and learning and have good organisational and communication skills. We ask that all staff working with our children hold qualifications in English and mathematics that are at least equivalent to GCSE grade ‘C’. Qualification as a teaching assistant (or equivalent) is essential.

Safeguarding requirements for the role:

Tees Valley Education Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and, therefore, all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as “spent” must be declared. The Trust’s Recruitment of Ex-Offender policy can be requested or visit the Trust’s website.

Applications are invited from prospective candidates who demonstrate that they are able to meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification and who have the vision, values and tenacity to join an outstanding team and help continue the journey towards excellence.

JOB DESCRIPTION

To work with the class teacher to support teaching and learning of children with significant learning needs, providing specialist support to the teacher. This could include those requiring detailed and specialist knowledge in particular areas and will involve assisting the teacher in the whole planning and assessment cycle and the management/preparation of resources. Staff may also supervise whole classes occasionally (e.g. short-term absence of teacher) or for regular short periods with teacher’s planning provided (including PPA cover).

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

• Use specialist (curricular/learning) skills/training/experience to support all pupils with a range of needs within specialist provisions within the trust
• Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils
• Work with classes, small groups and individuals in order to support them in accessing learning across the curriculum as directed by the class teacher
• Encourage pupils to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher
• Support pupils in their own personal development to be successful through promoting excellent attitudes towards learning and behaviour
• Supervise and provide particular support for pupils, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement under the guidance of the teacher Establish constructive relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs
• Assist with the development and implementation of individual plans e.g. behaviour, healthcare and learning
• Supervise pupils and ensure they are happy and safe at playtime and lunchtime

SUPPORT FOR THE TEACHER

• Work with the teacher to establish an appropriate learning environment
• Work with the teacher in lesson planning, evaluating and adjusting lessons/work plans as appropriate
• Monitor and evaluate pupils’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learning objectives
• Provide objective and accurate feedback and reports as required, to the teacher on pupil achievement, progress and other matters, ensuring the availability of appropriate evidence
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested
• Undertake feedback/marking of pupils’ work and accurately record achievement/progress
• Promote positive values, attitudes and good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own behaviour
• Liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher within your role/responsibility and participate in feedback sessions/meetings with parents with, or as directed
• Provide general resource support and ensure the learning environment is in good order e.g. photocopying, preparation of classroom resources, displays and good classroom organisation

SUPPORT FOR THE CURRICULUM

• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs
• Implement agreed learning strategies e.g. PIVATS, Literacy, Maths, Foundation Stage curriculum and make effective use of opportunities to support the development of relevant knowledge and skills
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support
• Determine the need for, prepare and maintain general and specialist equipment and resources

SUPPORT FOR THE ACADEMY

• Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Understand and fully implement the academy’s Behaviour Management Strategies
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
• Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the academy
• Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals, in liaison with the teacher, to support achievement and progress of pupils
• Attend and participate in regular meetings
• Participate in training and other learning activities as required
• Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
• Have an area of specialism e.g. a subject area
• Provide appropriate guidance and supervision and assist in the training and development of staff as appropriate
• Supervise classes in the absence of the teacher with teachers planning provided
• Undertake delivery of extended schools’ provision e.g. before/after school and holiday clubs/activities

The job holder may be required to undertake additional duties as could be reasonably required in exceptional or emergency situations.

The job holder may be required to work flexibly between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

The job holder may be required to work across the academy group.

The job holder may be required to undertake additional training e.g. first aid, Positive Handling.

What the school offers its staff

What the Trust will provide the successful candidate with:

• A workplace where all staff are valued and treated with respect as outlined within the Trust’s Diamond Standards
• A passionate, enthusiastic and supportive Leadership Team
• A listening and learning organisation where all staff are encouraged to be curious and share ideas for the Trust/academies/team to improve
• Hard working, committed and dedicated staff who strive to gain the best outcomes for all children across the Trust’s academies
• Dedicated approach to children’s learning to encourage them all to be the best they can be
• Career enhancement opportunities within areas of interest as well as supporting ongoing professional development and training specific to job role
• Dedicated line manager to discuss work streams and capacity
• Free access to the Trust’s Wellbeing offer, which includes counselling, access to GP, Mindfulness and so much more.
• Free parking
• Enrolment into the local government pension scheme
• All support contracts are employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services (also known as Green book)
• Benefits of the Trust’s Staff Charter which can be found at TVED Staff Charter.

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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

L3 SEND Learning Assistant advert.docx - 7 MB (opens in new tab)

About Discovery Special Academy

• School type: Free School, ages 2 to 16
• School size: 171 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Discovery Special Academy website
• Email address: recruitment@discoveryspecialacademy.org.uk
• Phone number: 01642248333
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/discovery-special-academy

Arranging a visit to Discovery Special Academy

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@discoveryspecialacademy.org.uk.

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