Higher Level Teaching Assistant

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Job Title:  Higher Level Teaching Assistant
Location:  Red Kite School, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, HP27 0JW
Hours:      40 hours per week | Monday to Friday 
Salary:      Up to £26,375 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        January 2027
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

What if your next role gave you the opportunity to do more than support learning but actually lead it?

At Red Kite School, we’re looking for an experienced and ambitious Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to join our specialist team and make a real difference to the lives of young people with SEMH needs.

This is a role for someone who wants responsibility, variety and the opportunity to make a genuine impact.

As an HLTA, you’ll play a key role in delivering learning across the school. From leading lessons and interventions to providing class cover, supporting individual pupils and mentoring colleagues, you’ll be an important part of helping our young people re-engage with education and recognise their own potential.

You’ll work in a supportive, therapeutic and trauma-informed environment, alongside teachers, therapists and pastoral professionals. Together, you’ll create the consistency, structure and positive relationships that help pupils feel safe, build confidence and succeed.

What you will be doing:

• Deliver engaging and appropriately adapted lessons, interventions and learning activities.

• Provide effective class cover and take responsibility for learning in the absence of the class teacher.

• Support pupils to overcome barriers to learning and achieve their individual goals.

• Use trauma-informed and therapeutic approaches to promote emotional regulation, positive behaviour and engagement.

• Assess and monitor pupil progress, providing meaningful feedback to teachers and contributing to individual learning and support plans.

• Build positive, consistent and trusting relationships with pupils, acting as an excellent role model.

• Mentor and support Teaching Assistants, helping to develop confident and effective classroom practice.

• Work closely with teachers, therapists, pastoral colleagues, families and external professionals to ensure pupils receive joined-up support.

• Help create a calm, structured and inclusive environment where every pupil feels valued and able to succeed.

What you will bring:

We’re looking for someone who is confident, resilient and passionate about helping young people succeed.

• A recognised Level 3 HLTA qualification or equivalent teaching qualification.

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent.

• Experience working with young people with SEMH needs, ideally within a specialist, alternative provision or similar setting.

• Confidence leading lessons, interventions and groups of pupils.

• A strong understanding of trauma-informed practice, positive behaviour support and emotional regulation.

• The ability to adapt your approach and learning activities to meet individual needs.

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

• The confidence to take responsibility, use your initiative and remain calm in challenging situations.

• A genuine belief that every young person can achieve when given the right relationships, support and opportunities.

About Us

Red Kite School is an independent special school for up to 60 young people aged 11–18 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Opened in September 2024, the school is located in the beautiful market town of Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. We provide a safe, nurturing and supportive environment where every young person is understood, valued and encouraged to thrive.

Our experienced team creates a calm, structured environment where pupils build confidence, resilience and achieve positive outcomes through personalised learning, high expectations and strong relationships.

Our curriculum develops the knowledge, emotional resilience, social communication and life skills pupils need to succeed in education, their communities and beyond, helping every young person become a confident learner, responsible citizen and prepared for their future.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance

• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions

• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks

• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:

  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits

  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts

  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme

  • Critical illness cover

  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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