Senior Lead Teaching Assistant (Support For Learning)

Southern Cross School, Manchester, M22 4AB

21 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP (subject to notice period)

• Closing date

  2 November 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  12 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • HLTA (higher level teaching assistant)
  • Other leadership role
  • Other support role
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: 28,159.00 - 31,412.00

Senior Lead Teaching Assistant (Support For Learning) job summary

Senior Lead Teaching Assistant (Support For Learning) - Southern Cross School

Start Date: Subject to the completion of pre-employment checks

Salary: Grade 6 point 20 - 25. Actual Salary £28,159 to £31,412

Term Time Only plus 5 Days

35 hours per week

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, offering generous employer contributions

On-site parking

Employee Assistance Programme and additional wellbeing benefits

Access to high-quality professional development and specialist SEND training

The opportunity to work within a growing therapeutic special school with excellent facilities and a supportive staff team

Are you passionate about supporting young people to overcome barriers to learning, improve their emotional wellbeing and achieve their full potential?

We are seeking a dedicated, resilient and highly skilled Support for Learning Lead to join our team at Southern Cross School. Working closely with the Head Teacher, staff, pupils, families and external agencies, you will play a key role in promoting positive behaviour, emotional regulation, inclusion and wellbeing across the school.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and develop support for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs and emotional school-based dysregulation. You will work alongside colleagues to promote therapeutic and relational approaches, support pupils to engage positively with learning and help create a safe, nurturing and inclusive environment where every young person can thrive.

The successful candidate will lead on behaviour monitoring and analysis, oversee the effective use of IRIS, support the implementation of Trust initiatives including Relational Inclusion, Conflict Resolution, Emotion Coaching and Hacking for Behaviour, and work collaboratively with staff to promote consistent approaches to behaviour management and emotional regulation.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone who:

Has substantial experience of supporting children and young people with SEMH needs and barriers to learning.

Can build positive, professional and trusting relationships with pupils, families and colleagues.

Has a strong understanding of behaviour regulation, emotional wellbeing and inclusion.

Can remain calm, resilient and solution-focused when managing challenging situations.

Has experience of analysing information and using data to identify trends, inform interventions and improve outcomes.

Can confidently support and guide colleagues in promoting positive behaviour and pupil safety.

Has excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.

Is committed to safeguarding, inclusion and improving outcomes for vulnerable learners.

Shares our values of Aspiration, Resilience and Kindness.

Previous experience within a specialist, alternative provision, SEMH or inclusion-focused setting would be advantageous, as would experience of leading initiatives, supporting staff development or coordinating behaviour and wellbeing provision.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of young people and to contribute to a school community that places relationships, wellbeing and inclusion at the heart of all that it does.

Southern Cross School

Southern Cross School is a Special School for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. We have recently expanded our provision and now have a brand-new building which has been designed to deliver our therapeutic vision.

Our vision is to create a therapeutic, harmonious environment which promotes feelings of safety and security, allowing our pupils to explore, enjoy learning and reach their full potential. Building a sense of community around the child, we aim to become a leading therapeutic provision that is high quality and expert in recognising and meeting the needs of all pupils through outstanding teaching and engaging learning.

We achieve positive outcomes for all our pupils, including emotional wellbeing and self-belief, creating successful, happy and healthy individuals. We develop the skills that enable our pupils to sustain employment and build security in their lives.

To find out more about our school, visit: https://southerncross-ebsd.co.uk/

We look forward to receiving your application and potentially discussing the role with you in the near future.

Safeguarding Statement

Southern Cross School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to robust safer recruitment procedures, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, online and social media checks, verification of qualifications, identity checks, and any other pre-employment checks considered relevant to the role. As an organisation working with children and young people, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore reserve the right to seek information about applicants' criminal history and consider this information when making recruitment decisions, in line with current legislation and safeguarding guidance.

All staff are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding, maintain professional boundaries and actively contribute to creating a safe environment for all pupils.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Southern Cross School is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. We believe that diversity enriches our school community and strengthens our ability to support and inspire young people. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from groups that are currently underrepresented within the education workforce, including people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of all ages, faiths and beliefs, and those with different lived experiences.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, fostering positive relationships and ensuring that all staff, pupils and visitors feel valued, respected and able to achieve their full potential. Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the recruitment process and employment to support applicants and employees with disabilities.

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 Southern Cross School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 9 to 16
• Size: 165 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 9 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Southern Cross School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/southern-cross-school-manchester

We are very proud to be able to share with you the developments, opportunities and resources that are available for your children at our school.

Southern Cross teaches Year 5 through Year 11 pupils (Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4). It is an exciting and inspirational place to learn, where everyone is valued and each pupil is encouraged to succeed to the best of their ability.

We are committed to creating a happy, safe and stimulating learning environment where everyone is encouraged to reach their potential. We promote respect, responsibility, independence and creativity in order to build confidence, increase motivation and establish a love and thirst for learning which will help prepare our children for their future and life in wider society.

If you would like to know more about the school or would like to arrange a visit during the day, then please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be delighted to hear from you.

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