Higher Level Teaching Assistant - Secure Education Setting

Protocol Education Limited; Morpeth; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Protocol Education is seeking a Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to work within a secure children’s unit in Morpeth. You will support learning, deliver targeted interventions, and help pupils develop literacy and numeracy skills in a calm, structured environment.

The role is full-time starting September 2026. Previous education experience and a Level 3 qualification or equivalent are preferred; DBS and safeguarding checks are required as part of the appointment process.

Qualifications

• Experience in education and a Level 3 qualification or equivalent.
• Ability to support learning, manage groups and sessions.
• Experience working in SEND, SEMH, PRU, or related settings is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the planning and delivery of learning activities
• Delivering lessons or interventions when required
• Supporting pupils on a 1:1 and small-group basis
• Differentiating activities to meet individual needs
• Encouraging participation and engagement
• Supporting literacy and numeracy development
• Managing behaviour in a calm and consistent way
• Helping pupils develop independence and confidence
• Recording observations and providing feedback
• Working closely with teachers and wider professionals

Skills

Learning support

Behaviour management

Organisation

Patience

Professional boundaries

Communication with professionals

Education

Level 3 qualification

Job description

Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Secure Education Setting

Location: Morpeth
Role: Full-Time
Start: September 2026
Salary: Dependent on experience

Education can be a powerful tool for helping young people build confidence, develop new skills and prepare for their future.

Protocol Education is recruiting for an HLTA to work within a secure children’s unit in Morpeth, supporting young people who may have had disrupted experiences of education.

Your Role

Working alongside qualified teaching staff, you will help create a positive and structured learning environment.

You will be responsible for:

• Supporting the planning and delivery of learning activities
• Delivering lessons or interventions when required
• Supporting pupils on a 1:1 and small-group basis
• Differentiating activities to meet individual needs
• Encouraging participation and engagement
• Supporting literacy and numeracy development
• Managing behaviour in a calm and consistent way
• Helping pupils develop independence and confidence
• Recording observations and providing feedback
• Working closely with teachers and wider professionals

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience working within education and hold an appropriate Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience.

You should be:

• Confident supporting learning
• Comfortable taking responsibility for activities and groups
• Experienced in behaviour management
• Patient and resilient
• Organised and reliable
• Able to maintain professional boundaries
• Confident communicating with a range of professionals

Experience in SEND, SEMH, PRU, alternative provision, youth work or residential care would be advantageous.

Why This Role?

This is an opportunity to develop your experience within a specialist education environment while supporting young people who may need consistency, patience and positive role models around them.

Protocol Education will provide ongoing support, training opportunities and access to further roles within the education sector.

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.