HLTA / Trainee / Experienced Classroom Support

Shorefields; Essex; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent special school in Chelmsford seeks a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) for immediate start. The role involves supporting vulnerable pupils with SEND, delivering a tailored academic curriculum, and utilizing a therapeutic approach to enhance learning. Candidates should have substantial recent experience and be dedicated to professional development. The position offers benefits like a £2000 recruitment incentive, full pension, and 10 paid wellbeing days. Interested candidates must hold GCSEs in Maths and English or equivalent.

Benefits

Full pension

Private health benefits scheme

10 paid term-time wellbeing days

Annual pay rises

13 INSET days annually

24/7 Wellbeing support

Refreshments provided daily

Qualifications

• Substantial recent school-based experience including work with SEND pupils.
• Ability to deliver a therapeutic curriculum and support children with mental health needs.
• Ownership and use of a car full time with a full driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Deliver tailor-made academic curriculum for small groups of pupils.
• Assist with transporting and accompanying children to local activities.
• Support teaching staff in implementing the therapeutic approach.

Skills

Experience in supporting pupils with SEND

Compassionate and flexible approach

Effective communication

Education

GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English (grade 4/C)

Job description

HLTA / Trainee / Experienced Classroom Support

is using its own application form, please click the button below to download and view it as Essex School Jobs cannot automatically fill out an application form that has been created by a school. You will need to download the application form before you are able to complete it.

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 18/01/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: Week beginning 19th January 2026 onwards

Recruitment incentive – £2000 payment upon the successful completion of probation!

Benefits:

• Full pension
• Private health benefits scheme
• 10 paid term‑time ‘wellbeing days’ tagged onto the beginning / ends of terms
• Annual pay rises (since we are independent of National School pay scales)
• Stability and job security
• Extremely generous 13 INSET days provided P/A
• Supportive, empathic, professional team to work with
• Therapeutic approach to pupil behaviour and SEND provision
• Small school, maximising professional nurturing of children in accordance with updated Psychological research
• Substantial paid non‑contact time each week
• Additional paid individual CPD time
• Protected lunch break each day in our quiet, staff retreat area
• 24/7 Wellbeing support from the Employee Assistance Programme (including free face‑to‑face counselling and supervision sessions if desired)
• Generous budgets for resources for subject delivery, each child has a personal ICT and SEND budget
• Schemes of work and resources provided
• Staff ‘thank you’ events throughout the year to show our appreciation to you
• Refreshments provided throughout every day

Higher Level Teaching Assistant – 36.5 hours per week (daily protected 30 mins lunch break)

Directed hours:
Mon 8:30 – 17:30
Tue‑Fri 8:30 – 16:00
5 days per week, term time only
Required early 2026

We are looking for a positive, flexible, compassionate person to join our friendly team at this independent special school for 18 pupils, which opened in September 2019. We have exciting opportunities for applicants who are able to offer professional SEND teaching and therapeutic support to small groups of vulnerable pupils and wish to continually develop their own skills, knowledge and experience in SEND. Together with the rest of the teaching and support staff team, you will be delivering a tailor‑made academic curriculum for small groups of 5–6 pupils, and lead on one subject area, with support from the class teacher and Curriculum Lead. With training, you will deliver our therapeutic curriculum, supporting children with low‑level dysregulation and mental health needs. Lessons are at the school and activities are planned around the local area, using specialist support teams for extra‑curricular activities. Together as a staff team, you will be required to transport and accompany children to local activities. Ownership and use of a car full time, as well as a full driving licence, is therefore essential. Pupils are aged between 6 and 17 years of age, main cohort usually between 10 and 17 years.

The successful applicant will need to have substantial recent school‑based experience including supporting and teaching pupils with SEND using an evidence‑based, therapeutic approach. A qualification at grade 4 / C in GCSE or equivalent in Maths and English is an essential requirement for this post. We also welcome applications from highly experienced Learning Support Assistants who desire to progress to Higher Level Teaching Assistant status but have not yet achieved HLTA status. Full financial support and training will be given throughout the duration of the course.

How to apply:

Step 1: Contact the school office ([e-mail]) to book your place on a group tour, available by prior booking only, on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at 4pm and Thursday 8th January 2026 at 4pm.

Step 2: Apply for this post following your tour, using the application form and documents attached.

Step 3: Candidates will be shortlisted following attending their group tour of the school, week beginning 12th January 2026.

The school is committed to safeguarding its pupils and as such, employer references and online checks (such as social media checks) will be sought upon application, for inclusion in the shortlisting process. DBS checks will also be sought prior to appointment.

Information about School

Clarity Independent School is a small special needs school for pupils with complex profiles of learning and SEND. We take pupils aged between 6 and 17 years and all pupils are referred to the school by the Statutory Assessment team of several Local Authorities around the Essex and surrounding areas. We have recently (December 25) been granted registration to increase our places from 13 to 18.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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