Higher Level Teaching Assistant - Secondary School in Bristol

Location: Nailsea, North Somerset

Salary: Grade 11 (dependent on experience)

Contract: Term Time Only

Are you an experienced Teaching Assistant or HLTA with a passion for supporting young people with autism? Do you enjoy delivering engaging lessons, adapting learning to meet individual needs, and helping students develop the confidence to thrive? We are recruiting on behalf of a welcoming and inclusive secondary school in Nailsea for an enthusiastic Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to join their specialist ASD Resource Base. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting students with additional educational needs, helping them access both specialist provision and the mainstream curriculum.

The Role

Working as part of a dedicated SEND team, you will support students in Years 7-11 with a primary diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). You will deliver learning to small groups within the Resource Base, adapting mainstream schemes of work to meet individual needs while helping students build confidence, independence and academic success. This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll work closely with the SENCO, teachers and wider pastoral team to ensure every student receives the personalised support they need.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering engaging lessons to small groups within the ASD Resource Base.
• Adapting mainstream lesson plans and resources to meet individual learning needs.
• Supporting students with autism to access learning, develop independence and achieve their personal targets.
• Planning lessons collaboratively with teaching staff and contributing to the full planning and assessment cycle.
• Delivering targeted interventions to support academic progress, communication and social development.
• Monitoring progress, maintaining accurate records and providing feedback to teachers and the SEND team.
• Contributing to Individual Education Plans (IEPs), EHCP reviews and wider SEND provision.
• Building positive, trusting relationships with students and creating a calm, structured and supportive learning environment.

About You

We're looking for someone who is patient, proactive and genuinely passionate about inclusive education. Ideally, you will have:

• HLTA status, a relevant Teaching Assistant qualification (Level 3 or above), Foundation Degree, or equivalent experience.
• At least two years' experience working as a Level 3 Teaching Assistant or HLTA within a school.
• Experience supporting children or young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and additional educational needs.
• A good understanding of the SEND Code of Practice, safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Experience delivering interventions and adapting learning to meet a range of needs.
• Strong literacy, numeracy and ICT skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• The ability to remain calm, resilient and adaptable in a busy school environment.

Experience supporting pupils with additional needs such as ADHD, speech and language needs, sensory processing differences, anxiety or Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs would also be highly valued.

Why Apply?

This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of a highly supportive and experienced SEND team within an inclusive secondary school that places student wellbeing at the centre of everything it does. You'll have the opportunity to make a genuine difference every day, supporting young people to overcome barriers to learning, celebrate their successes and achieve their full potential within both specialist and mainstream settings. If you're an experienced HLTA or an ambitious Teaching Assistant looking to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.