High Level Teaching Assistant

Protocol Education Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading autism-specialist school in Sunderland seeks a Higher Level Teaching Assistant to support pupils aged 11-19 with autism. This full-time role focuses on fostering independence and building emotional resilience, with a strong emphasis on adapting lessons and creating supportive environments. Applicants should hold an HLTA qualification and have relevant experience working with autistic learners. Protocol Education offers ongoing support and free access to valuable training resources.

Benefits

Weekly PAYE pay, no umbrella deductions

Free access to Thrive CPD and SEND training

Ongoing support from a SEND specialist consultant

Long-term roles with real development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience supporting autistic learners or those with complex SEND.
• Confidence leading small group interventions.
• Strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading targeted group sessions and supporting classroom delivery.
• Mentoring students and helping them build routines.
• Working closely with teaching staff to embed communication strategies.

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Calm Approach

Education

HLTA qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Title: HLTA – Supporting Autistic Learners to Shine
Location: Sunderland
Salary: £89–£108 per day
Contract: Full-time, Long-Term
Start Date: September 2025

Do you thrive in structured, supportive environments where your contribution has real impact?

We’re recruiting for a Higher Level Teaching Assistant to join a leading autism-specialist school in Sunderland. Working with pupils aged 11–19, you’ll play a key role in supporting learning, building emotional resilience, and fostering independence across the school day.

This is a setting that gets it. They understand the importance of consistency, calm routines, and clear communication—and they’ll value your initiative and experience in creating spaces where autistic students feel safe, seen, and successful.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading targeted group sessions and supporting differentiated classroom delivery

• Working closely with teaching staff to adapt lessons and embed communication strategies

• Mentoring students with additional needs, helping them build routines and relationships

• Supporting progress across both academic and life skills pathways

What we’re looking for:

• HLTA qualification or equivalent experience in a specialist or secondary school setting

• Experience supporting autistic learners or those with complex SEND

• A calm, flexible approach with strong communication skills

• Confidence leading small group interventions or classroom cover when required

If you’re Thrive-trained, even better. If not, we’ll provide access to this CPD for free-boosting your ability to support students’ emotional development and regulation.

Working with Protocol Education means:

• Weekly PAYE pay, no umbrella company deductions

• FREE access to our Thrive CPD and SEND training pathways

• Ongoing, personalised support from a SEND specialist consultant

• Long-term roles that lead to real development, not just short-term cover

This is more than a classroom role-it’s an opportunity to shape pathways and possibilities for young people who deserve the best support.

Ready to take that next step? Apply now or contact us to discuss the role in more detail.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.