About this Role

Post:  Higher Learning Teaching Assistant

Location: Salisbury Academy for Inspirational Learners (SAIL), Salisbury, Wiltshire

FTE Salary: NJC Grade H pt 15-17 - £31,537 - 33,699

Actual Salary Range:  £26548.00 - £28368.00 (Pro Rata)

Hours/Contract Type: Permanent, 35 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term-time), 8:15am – 4:00pm Monday to Thursday with 30 minute unpaid break and 8:15am to 14:45pm on Friday with 30 minute unpaid break

About the role:

As a member of our school team at SAIL, you will:

• Assist in the support and inclusion of children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and difficulties. This could be through leading whole class groups, running targeted groups or 1:1 work
• Support pupils’ academic, social, emotional and communication needs
• Support positive social and emotional wellbeing, enabling pupils to engage in learning in and out of the school environment

What we’re looking for

The successful candidate for our HLTA role will:

• Have a good knowledge and understanding of SEN strategies, specifically SEMH and Autism to support pupils with these needs.
• Have knowledge and understanding of social, emotional and mental health needs, and cognitive needs, that affect children and young people’s development and how to respond effectively to these issues
• Have excellent listening skills and the ability to build strong, trusting relationships
• Be resilient and able to take regular responsibility for agreed learning activities
• Be able to promote and support the inclusion of all pupils in learning and social skills activities
• Be able to use positive and personalised learning and behavioural management strategies

The key duties will also include but will not be limited to:

•                    Working within recognised procedures, which leave room for initiative.

•                    Responding independently to unexpected problems and situations.

•                    Assessing the educational needs of pupils and use knowledge and skills to support pupils’ learning.

•                    Planning teaching and learning objectives to evaluate, develop and adjust lessons/work plans as appropriate.

•                    Encouraging/ facilitating pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities.

•                    Leading pupils learning in whole class, groups or through1:1 work, supporting and enhancing the curriculum offer

•                    Being an excellent SEN practitioner demonstrating embedded SEMH and Autism enablement strategies

We will ensure that the post holder will have access to a supervisor and mentor for advice and guidance on an on-going basis  and to support on unusual or difficult problems (alongside the usual school support mechanisms and structures)

About the School

Here at SAIL we believe in the power of education to transform lives for the better and help realise the extraordinary in all of us. Our mission statement of ‘Learning for Today, Preparing for Tomorrow’ provides the foundation for everything we do, from the way the curriculum is designed, how we interact with our students and how we go about teaching them, to how we work with families, agencies and wider stakeholder groups. We are committed to working in partnership to build possibility and opportunity for our students so that when they leave us, they can become successful and productive members of society. 

SAIL is a special education free school that is part of the Reach South Academy Trust where we offer full-time education, care and therapeutic support to pupils with Autism and/ or Social, emotional and mental health needs and for students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). We have a registration for up to 150 pupils aged between 4 to 19 with a primary diagnosis of autistic spectrum condition (ASC) or social, emotional, mental health (SEMH). We offer significant experience and expertise in these areas, and a wide and diverse curriculum offer to meet the needs of our children and young people, priding ourselves in the work we do and the positive changes we can make

About the Trust

Reach South is a young and developing Trust which operates across the South West of England with the aim of delivering all through 3-19 education. We operate 16 academies in Bournemouth, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. We are building this Trust on a clear set of values, behaviours and curriculum principles. At the heart of those values and principles is a belief in our young people and a determination to support them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become the successful citizens for today and all of their tomorrows.

What we can offer

You will be working as part of a dynamic, committed team in a role which offers high job satisfaction and the chance to make a real difference to the children and families you work with.

We recognise what our people do and how hard they work, and we believe in giving back. You will have access to a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Competitive salary and LGPS pension
• Great career and development opportunities in a growing school
• A wide professional network as part of the Reach South family
• Employee Assistance Programme, including free 24/7 counselling and information line
• Wellbeing schemes, including Cycle to Work scheme and gym discounts
• Free will-writing service
• Lifestyle savings and discounts

Find out more about our range of employee benefits at: https://www.reachsouth.org/page/?title=Employee+Benefits&pid=84

How can I find out more about this opportunity?

You can find out more about this role by reading the job description attached.

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please get in touch with the Executive Headteacher, Matt Sambrook.

How do I apply?

Closing date for applications is 21st January 2026 at midnight..

Interview date:  Interviews are provisionally booked for Tuesday 27th January 2026..

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Reach South Academy Trust is committed to ensuring that there is no discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation at any stage of the recruitment process or in the terms and conditions offered to new employees, or promoted employees.