ALS Team Leader - Maternity Cover

Job Title: Additional Learning Support Team Leader

Department: Additional Learning Support (ALS)

Contract: Full Time, Fixed Term (Maternity Cover)

Salary: £29,482 – £31,453 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Annual Leave: 30 days annual leave plus statutory Bank Holidays

Pension: NEST Pension Scheme

The Role

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced and passionate professional who is committed to making a positive difference to the lives of learners with additional support needs. As Additional Learning Support Team Leader, you will lead and motivate a team of Learning Support Assistants, oversee the delivery of high-quality support for students with a range of needs, and work closely with curriculum teams, external agencies and families to ensure learners can thrive and achieve their full potential.

The successful candidate will bring strong leadership, organisational and communication skills, alongside experience of supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and developing effective support strategies.

With responsibility for Education, Health and Care Plans, staff supervision, student support planning and multi-agency collaboration, this is a rewarding opportunity for an individual who is proactive, resilient and passionate about inclusion to play a key role in maintaining continuity and excellence within the ALS service during a period of maternity leave.

This post is offered on a fixed‑term basis to cover maternity leave. However, as a large organisation, Middlesbrough College regularly advertises a range of roles, and employees are welcome to apply for suitable opportunities that arise during their employment, which may enable them to continue their career with the College.

Key Responsibilities

• To lead a team of Learning Support Assistants, including day to day supervision, managing timetabling and sickness absence cover.
• To develop support plans for a caseload of High Needs students including the sharing of information with Personal tutors and the allocation of Learning Support within the classrooms.
• To lead on the Education, Health, and Care plans for a case load of students within the assigned directorate.
• Work with the High Needs Coordinator to closely liaison with Health Providers, Care Providers and multi agencies to ensure support is implemented for High Needs students including Occupational Therapists and other Commissioning Services.
• To undertake Staff Appraisals of team members, in accordance with the Colleges Staff Appraisal Policy.

Please find the full job description here – ALS Team Leader (Maternity Cover)

Qualifications

• An appropriate level 2 qualification in supporting students in an educational setting (or equivalent) or commitment to complete within an agreed timescale.
• Grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Certificate in Behaviour Management – Desirable.
• Team Teaching Qualification – Desirable.
• Teaching or Training Qualification – Desirable.

Experience

• Experience in working with students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties and strategies to support these.
• Experience of working with disengaged young people aged 14-19 (24 with SEN).
• Demonstrate up-to-date experience of successfully working with external agencies to support young people with Social Emotional / Mental Health.
• Proven track record of supporting students to engage and achieve – Desirable.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of completing Education, Health, and Care reviews.
• Knowledge of SEN and barriers to learning especially Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties.
• The ability to lead and motivate team members.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other agencies, both internal and external.

Why Join Us?

• Substantial annual leave entitlement plus holiday purchase scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing; free gym membership, 24/7 counselling for you and your family
• Family-friendly policies: flexible hours and a supportive work environment
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): confidential support including counselling, legal and financial advice.
• Professional development: extensive training, mentoring, and career progression opportunities
• Funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training, and paid volunteering days
• Access to discounted hair and beauty treatments at our onsite salon.
• College benefit scheme – College Extras:
• Up to 15% cashback at top retailers & restaurants
• Discounted gift cards for big brands
• Home & tech upgrades via salary sacrifice
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted onsite car parking.

To learn more about working at Middlesbrough College, please visit our Work For Us page.

For further details and to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Leanne Elsy, Head Of Additional Learning Support, ALS on L.Elsy@mbro.ac.uk

Are you ready to make your mark?

If you’re looking to join a team that cares about their staff wellbeing, values their personal development and works with them to have a positive impact on student experience, come to Middlesbrough College!

About Middlesbrough College

Middlesbrough College is a leading provider of education and training in the Northeast, offering A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, and degree-level qualifications. With state-of-the-ad facilities and a commitment to staff development, we’re proud to create opportunities for learners and colleagues alike, fostering an environment where everyone can grow, thrive, and make a real difference.

Our Vision, Mission and Values

Across our campus and community, Middlesbrough College is driven by a clear vision, mission, and values that not only shape what we do for students—but also make us a great place to work, grow, and thrive.

Safeguarding Our Students

Middlesbrough College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. All staff are expected to share this commitment. If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. All roles within the College carry safeguarding responsibilities, including promoting student welfare, reporting any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and modelling safe and appropriate conduct in line with College policies.

All posts at Middlesbrough College involve regulated activity and are therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020) mean that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications, related exceptions and further information.

Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

As part of our shortlisting process, we will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates to identify any safeguarding or reputation‑related concerns (as required by KCSIE).

Right to work

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Recruitment Process

Applications are shortlisted for interview as they are received, and so early application is encouraged. We reserve the right to commence the interview process and close the vacancy prior to this date.

Equality & Diversity

Middlesbrough College is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively support applicants with disabilities.