Mount Havelock is part of the First Steps Together Group, and is our newest specialist school, located in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield, opening in January 2027.
Providing education for young people across Key Stages 3 and 4, Mount Havelock will offer a nurturing, inclusive and aspirational environment where pupils are supported to feel safe, understood and able to succeed. Joining Mount Havelock is an exciting opportunity to be part of a brand-new school from the beginning – helping to shape its culture, establish its team and create an exceptional learning environment for our young people.
For every journey, let’s take first steps together.
At First Steps Together, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood, included and able to succeed.
We are a growing group of specialist independent schools providing nurturing, inclusive and aspirational education for children and young people with a range of additional needs, including SEND, SEMH and complex presentations. Across our schools, strong relationships, individualised support and high expectations are central to helping pupils overcome barriers, engage in learning and achieve positive outcomes.
We are looking for an experienced, confident and committed Teaching Assistant Level 3 (TA3) to join our school team and provide high-quality support for pupils with SEND and SEMH needs.
This is a hands-on, pupil-facing role for someone who can combine excellent classroom practice with the confidence and experience to deliver targeted interventions, adapt learning and provide skilled support to pupils with more complex needs.
Working closely with teachers and the wider school team, you’ll help pupils access learning, develop their independence and resilience and participate fully in school life.
What you’ll be doing
You’ll work directly with pupils throughout the school day, building positive, professional and trusting relationships that support their academic, social and emotional development.
You’ll work alongside teachers to adapt learning activities and resources to individual needs, helping remove barriers to learning and ensuring pupils are able to participate meaningfully in lessons. You’ll use your experience and initiative to recognise when a pupil needs additional support, a different approach or greater independence.
As a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, you’ll take greater responsibility for planning, delivering and evaluating targeted interventions. This may include leading individual or small-group programmes focused on learning, SEMH, emotional regulation, communication or wellbeing and adapting your approach in response to pupil progress.
You’ll also be confident leading small-group learning and structured programmes, supporting teaching within the classroom and taking responsibility for aspects of learning under the direction of the teacher.
Supporting pupils with behaviour and emotional regulation will be an important part of the role. You’ll use positive, proactive and trauma-informed approaches to help pupils regulate, manage difficult situations and remain engaged in learning. When behaviour becomes challenging, you’ll be able to respond calmly and confidently, using appropriate de-escalation strategies while maintaining pupils’ safety and dignity.
You’ll contribute to the development and implementation of personalised support, including EHCP targets, individual learning plans, behaviour strategies and risk assessments, ensuring agreed approaches are understood and applied consistently.
You’ll monitor, assess and record pupil progress, providing detailed feedback to teachers and helping identify appropriate next steps. You’ll use information about learning, behaviour and engagement to evaluate whether interventions and support strategies are working and where changes may be needed.
You’ll also support pupils to develop greater self-regulation, resilience and independence, modelling positive behaviours and helping them build the skills and confidence they need to become increasingly successful learners.
Your experience will also help strengthen practice around you. You’ll model effective approaches, share your knowledge with colleagues and contribute to creating a calm, purposeful and inclusive learning environment where expectations are clear and consistent.
Strong partnership working will be important. You’ll work collaboratively with teachers, school leaders, families and external professionals to help ensure pupils receive joined-up and consistent support.
Above all, you’ll be someone pupils can rely on – providing the structure, encouragement, challenge and consistency they need to engage successfully in education and achieve their potential.
Bring your difference
We’re looking for someone with significant experience of working with children or young people in education or a similar setting, including experience supporting pupils with SEND, SEMH or other additional needs.
You’ll have a good understanding of child development, barriers to learning and inclusive practice, alongside the confidence to adapt learning and support to meet individual needs.
You’ll have experience planning, delivering and reviewing targeted interventions and be comfortable working independently with individual pupils and small groups. You’ll understand that effective intervention is about more than delivering an activity – you’ll monitor its impact, recognise what is and isn’t working and adapt your approach accordingly.
You’ll have strong behaviour support skills and understand positive, proactive and trauma-informed approaches. You’ll be able to remain calm when situations become challenging, de-escalate effectively and maintain clear and consistent expectations.
A relevant Level 3 qualification, such as Supporting Teaching and Learning, or equivalent experience is important for this role, alongside a good standard of education including English and Maths.
You’ll also need strong communication skills. You’ll provide clear feedback to teachers, contribute appropriately to communication with families and maintain accurate records of pupil progress, interventions and incidents.
Experience contributing to EHCPs, behaviour plans or personalised learning plans, leading small-group learning or structured programmes and monitoring pupil progress would be particularly valuable.
Training or experience in behaviour management, SEMH, de-escalation or structured interventions would also be beneficial.
Most importantly, you’ll bring a patient, resilient and empathetic approach, combining strong relationships with high expectations. You’ll be confident using your own initiative while recognising the importance of working consistently as part of the wider school team.
Why First Steps Together?
This is an opportunity to take the next step in your support career within a specialist school where relationships, inclusion and individualised support are central to how we work.
As a Level 3 Teaching Assistant, you’ll have greater responsibility for interventions, pupil progress and adapting support than in a more general classroom support role. You’ll have opportunities to use your experience, take initiative and lead aspects of practice while continuing to work directly with pupils every day.
You’ll work alongside experienced teachers, school leaders and other professionals, developing your knowledge across SEND, SEMH, safeguarding, behaviour, intervention and inclusive practice.
You’ll also join a growing specialist education organisation where professional development and continuous improvement are actively encouraged, with opportunities to develop your skills and progress your career.
If you’re an experienced Teaching Assistant who is ready for greater responsibility and wants to help pupils with additional needs overcome barriers, develop independence and achieve positive outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.
Bring your difference. Take your next step with First Steps Together.
Safeguarding
First Steps Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Appointment to this role will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment and pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS, satisfactory references, online checks and overseas police checks where required.
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