Job Summary
Job title: TA/HLTA
School: The Poplars School – Part of Hexagon Care Services
Location: Houghton-Le-Spring
Teaching Assistant Salary: £22,000 to £23,500
HLTA salary: £25,000 to £27,000
Make a Difference Where It Matters Most
Are you passionate about supporting young people and ready for a rewarding role in a nurturing, specialist setting? If so, Cedar Lodge School could be the fresh start you're looking for.
As part of Hexagon Care Services, The Poplars School supports 4 young people aged 11–16, delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, including ASDAN, Functional Skills, and GCSEs for our more academically inclined learners. Our small class sizes, therapeutic approach, and dedicated team ensure every student receives the tailored education and support they need to thrive.
About the Role
We are seeking a dedicated Teaching Assistant or Higher Level Teaching Assistant with a strong understanding of learners with additional and complex needs. You will play a vital role in supporting students, both academically and emotionally through a personalised approach to education.
Key Experience & Skills:
1. Previous experience as a TA or HLTA is essential
2. Background in supporting young people with SEMH needs or experience in a secondary school setting is highly desirable
3. A passion for engaging students in both academic and vocational subjects
4. A collaborative mindset and commitment to working as part of a multidisciplinary team
You’ll be supporting a small number of pupils (max. 6 per class), which allows for meaningful relationships, reduced marking and admin, and a focus on high-impact support.
What Our Ofsted Report Says:
"Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the support for their workload and well-being."
"The school has a bespoke curriculum. Pupils access learning in ways that meet their sensory and physical needs well."
"Pupils behave positively. They are respectful to staff and are accepting of each other."
In return we can we offer you:
5. Small class sizes of no more than 4 students.
6. A strong focus on work life balance due to; reduced student numbers, reduced level of marking and assessment.
7. A 37-hour working week.
8. Full access to school holidays.
9. A dedicated, supportive, and enthusiastic team, who strive for the best outcomes for our students.
10. A comprehensive induction programme.
11. Excellent CPD provided by our own highly skilled learning and development team.
12. A commitment to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of all our staff, including access to GP hero, able futures, employee assistant programme.
A range of benefits including:
13. Staff referral scheme
14. Life assurance (4x salary)
15. Monthly staff prize draw
16. Electric vehicle scheme
17. Cycle to work scheme
18. Long service bonus
19. Awards ceremony
Please note, Hexagon Care Services does not hold a sponsorship licence and as such we are unable to support any candidates who do not already have right to work. This is a permanent position, if you have right to work but with an expiry date, we are more than welcome to receive your application but please note you would only be eligible for an interim contract linked to your RTW expiry.
All hiring managers at Hexagon Care Services are trained by safer recruitment consortium accredited trainers, and all positions in regulated activity with children will be required to undergo safer recruitment and onboarding checks prior to commencement. This will include an enhanced DBS and/or children’s barred list check.
Feedback timescales - Candidates who apply via CV (Indeed etc) may not hear a response due to volume of applicants, candidates who complete application forms via our career's portal will be provided with feedback irrespective of outcome.
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