Higher Level Teaching Assistant in Bournemouth

Summerwood Campus & Linwood Campus BCP Council Band 7, Spine Points 19-25. Actual salary - £26,318 per annum for 35 hours per week, term time + INSET days (39 weeks). Appointments will be made at the starting point of the salary range. The salary shown is pro‑rated based on a 35‑hour working week from the full‑time equivalent.

Linwood School is an Ofsted‑graded Outstanding multi‑campus day special school for children aged 4‑19. We welcome pupils from a wide geographical area and support a comprehensive range of special educational needs including moderate (MLD), severe (SLD) and profound (PMLD) and complex learning difficulties (CLD) as well as pupils on the Autism spectrum.

We are seeking to appoint fully qualified, highly motivated and committed Higher Level Teaching Assistants to join our expanding team on a permanent basis. Positions are for 35 hours per week to be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, 39 weeks per year (38 weeks + INSET days).

Due to the special educational needs of our children and young people, this role can be challenging and physically demanding; however, the work is also very rewarding. Resilience is a key personal quality for the role as is the ability to communicate effectively using a range of tools.

The role of the HLTA requires the successful applicants to work in partnership with teachers to promote the best learning environment and deliver high standards of learning, care and support to the students. They will be responsible for planning and delivering allocated lessons and contributing to recording and assessment. There will also be an expectation for HLTAs to cover in absence of teachers within their designated area. Additional duties and responsibilities are identified within the job description.

Candidates invited to interview will be required to provide evidence of their HLTA qualification for verification purposes. The role is subject to a 6‑month mandatory probationary period during which there is an expectation that Higher Level Teaching Assistants take part in Monday after school training sessions to support their work in school to enhance skill levels. A list of training dates and topics would be provided on commencement.

Linwood School is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and strives for our staff to be from diverse backgrounds. We positively encourage applications from individuals within under‑represented groups and welcome applications from individuals regardless of their protected characteristics.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and the successful applicant will be required to have an enhanced DBS check as well as an overseas criminal records check if worked or lived outside the UK within the past 10 years. Offers of employment are also subject to satisfactory references, health, and right to work checks. All Linwood School staff are expected to adhere to our policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding and child protection, including Keeping Children Safe in Education and Guidance for adults working with children and young people in an education setting.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. If the role is exempt, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed, and if they are disclosed, we cannot take them into account.

For an informal discussion about this role please call the HR department on 01202 636811 or email recruitment@linwood.bournemouth.sch.uk. Only fully completed application forms will be accepted. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.