Job Description

Hours: 32.5.Term-time plus five non-pupil days (39 weeks per year) 

Start date: September 2026

Band: 3, points 6 - 11

Salary: £20,097.22 - £21,716.70 per annum
Actual: £26,717 to £28,871 including fringe allowance

Salary negotiable depending on skills and experience.

We are looking to recruit an experienced Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to help our lovely children atThe Wickford Church of England School to achieve their full potential. SEND experience is preferable.

Our new colleague will provide support to class teachers, sharing a passion for teaching and a commitment to the needs of the pupils.

Academies within the Trust have a highly inclusive ethos and provide a broad and enriched education for their pupils. We have highly skilled staff who prioritise the support of their colleagues as well as having very high aspirations for their pupils.   Each of our colleagues make a difference to our children and as such all play a pivotal role in ensuring our standards are met. 

Applicants must hold a minimum grade C in English and maths and NVQ Level 3 in learning Support/Early Years or equivalent qualification. 

All staff employed as a HLTA will be expected to have or gain a formal HLTA qualification within 18 months of successfully completing their probation period.

Job Purpose: 

• To work with teachers as part of a professional team to support learning activities for classes.  The primary focus will be to work under the professional direction of a teacher and within an agreed system of supervision in delivering lessons set by or with teachers
• The HLTA will be expected to support all children in making progress which includes delivering interventions, assessing progress, recording and feeding back to teachers and supporting with children's next steps
• To provide timetabled support across all phases, covering and supporting where needed under the full support and supervision of the SLT and phase teachers
• To be open to collaboration and engage with HLTAs and LSA's across the Trust to develop good working practices within a supportive environment

Principal accountabilities:

• Under the direction of the teacher, deliver teaching and learning activities
• Use detailed knowledge gained through professional development to support and progress pupils' learning 
• Deliver agreed learning activities to pupils, adapting activities according to pupil responses/needs 
• Building a bank of expertise throughout the Trust by working with team members of other schools within the HEARTS Academy Trust

For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office:wickfordcofe.admin@heartsacademy.ukor 01268 733297

For all vacancies at HEARTS Academy Trust please visit our website:https://heartsacademytrust.co.uk/careers/vacancies/

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised date, should we receive enough suitable applicants.

HEARTS Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the receipt of a satisfactory application form,satisfactory references that meet the requirements as set out in KCSIE, satisfactory online search and an Enhanced DBS check, to include a children's barred list check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

To view the Trust policies relating to recruitment, data protection and child protectionplease visit the Trust website:heartsacademytrust.co.uk/

If you would like any support or assistance at any stage of your application process, please contactrecruitment@heartsacademy.uk/ 01268 572672. We will be happy to discuss this with you.

Information about the School

The Wickford Church of England School is a small, friendly school, close to good transport links. Our school is a place where children can thrive in a safe and nurturing environment. The school provides education for children from the ages of 2-7 in the local area. As a team, we aim to create a respectful, caring and secure place for children to explore, learn and be happy together.

As a distinctively Christian school, spirituality is at the heart of all we do and we are supported in doing this by the close links we have with the Wickford and Runwell Diocese. HEARTS is an acronym inspired by our vision of Happiness, Equity, Achievement, Resilience, Truth and Spirituality for all pupils.

The Wickford Church of England School is part of the HEARTS Academy Trust, a Trust of local schools that has the values of happiness, equity, achievement, resilience, truth and spirituality. The Trust is truly innovative and rewards outstanding staff for outstanding outcomes. The school calendar consists of 184 days contact time with pupils, 5 non-pupil days and the equivalent of 6 days of high quality continuous professional development.

The Trustees are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, online searches, medical check, prohibited from teaching check and references. References are taken up prior to interview. A copy of the trusts Child Protection Policy is available on our website:- https://www.heartsacademytrust.co.uk/trust-information/policies

We can offer you:

• an excellent CPD entitlement with purposeful training, including Trust-wide twilights throughout the year

• a two-week October half-term

• supportive colleagues who want to provide the best possible opportunities for their pupils

• a highly effective learning environment

• a responsive and involved leadership team

• the HEARTS four-day face-to-face teaching week model whereby all teachers in the trust receive 20% non-contact time. This goes above and beyond the national entitlement of 10% PPA.

• a school with a highly positive culture that supports all staff; mental health, workload and wellbeing are at the forefront of our vision and values

• access to our school counsellor and network of Mental Health and Wellbeing champions

For further information about HEARTS, including policies and procedures, please refer to our website www.heartsacademytrust.co.uk