HLTA

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Tanners Brook is seeking a dedicated HLTA to support children with complex needs and to embed inclusive practice within the alternative pathway. You will work with the SENDCo/SEN Specialist to plan, deliver personalised activities, and ensure learning links to the year group curriculum wherever possible.

You will lead and teach on specified days, provide cover, coach teaching assistants, and help integrate pupils into the classroom.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children with complex needs, including EHCPs.
• Clear understanding of autism, SEMH, sensory processing and communication needs.
• Good communication skills and the ability to organise and prioritise tasks.
• Knowledge of TEACCH tasks and aided language boards (PECS).

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and deliver personalised activities and resources for individuals and groups.
• Support SENDCo/SEN Specialist to embed inclusive practice within the alternative pathway.
• Lead and teach within the alternative pathway on specified days and cover the class when required.
• Provide day-to-day management and coaching of teaching assistants, including staff across the school.

Skills

Complex needs experience

Autism awareness

SEMH understanding

Communication skills

Organisational skills

TEACCH

PECS knowledge

Education

HLTA qualification or equivalent

Job description

As you would expect, children are at the heart of everything we do at Tanners Brook – we are so proud of every single child who learns and develops with us. We are privileged to be able to shape the lives of our children and to equip them with the values we hold dear: being thoughtful, having self-belief, persevering, and challenging ourselves to succeed. These values underpin everything we do.

Our vision of every child striving for their personal best means that we are proud to equip our children and staff with the skills, qualities and values they need to make this happen and to develop a lifelong love of learning.

We are seeking a dedicated and passionate HLTA. You will be part of an exciting opportunity to mould Tanners Brook's provision for children with high needs, playing a vital role in embedding inclusive practice within the alternative pathway. This will be a key role, supporting children with a range of complex and multiple needs including autism, SEMH, sensory processing and communication difficulties, with an ultimate view to facilitate integration into the classroom.

You will support the SENDCo/SEN Specialist teacher to plan, prepare and deliver personalised activities, tasks and resources to suit children's individual needs and EHCP outcomes. You will work closely with the class teacher to ensure learning is linked to year group curriculum where possible and lead and teach within the alternative pathway on specified days and provide cover in the absence of the teacher when required.

You will provide day-to-day management and coaching of teaching assistants who work with the alternative pathway and provide coaching support for teaching assistants across the school where appropriate. We are looking for someone who has a clear vision for what integration and inclusion should look like and is proactive in making this happen.

This post is ideal for someone with:

• Experience of working with children with complex needs (including EHCPs)
• A secure understanding of autism, SEMH, sensory processing, communication needs and the Engagement Model
• Good communication skills
• Excellent organisation skills (the ability to organise your own time and that of others)
• Knowledge of specific activities and resources (e.g. TEACCH tasks, aided language boards (PECS)

The HISP Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. We are also committed to providing equality of opportunity at all stages of the recruitment and selection process and ensuring that candidates are treated fairly and lawfully throughout the process.

Expected Interview Date: w/c Monday 5 October 2026