Key Role Information

Salary
£22,523.00 - 23,601.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
02/11/2026 09:00
Interview
17 November 2026
Start
2 October 2026
Contract term
TTO - Term time only
Pay grade
TA1's Band C (SCP 3-4) TA2's Band D (SCP 5-6)
Key stage
Not Applicable
Hours per week
37.00
Weeks per year
39.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Ascent Academies’ Trust was founded in 2012 and is a family of six special academies in the North of England, over four different local authorities. We are a collaborative group of academies who work closely with one another in order to achieve the best outcomes for our young people. As a result, our academies have improved year on year and all academies are currently at least Good from an Ofsted rating, with some individual areas rated Outstanding.

 

This is an exciting time to join our Trust as we look to set out our next steps in creating brilliant schools. We are an ethical Trust whose vision and values are aligned to equality and diversity, collaboration and lifelong learning.


This advert is open for applications for Support Staff to be based at our Springwater Site in Starbeck Harrogate.


As our family of schools continue to grow, we recognise that this presents potential opportunities for professionals who share our vision of building brighter futures for our young people with SEND. We have sites based in Sunderland, Billingham, Easington, Peterlee, Ripon, Bedale and Harrogate (Starbeck) with vacancies arising at different times of the year and as a result of this we offer candidates the opportunity to join our 'Active Talent Pool'. If you meet our high standards at the assessment stage but you wish to wait for a role in a specific academy, we will retain your details for three months. This ensures that as soon as a position opens in your preferred location, we can move quickly to welcome you onboard to our family of schools.


Please note that by joining our talent pool, you consent to Ascent Academies' trust securely storing your application and interview notes for a period of three month. We will contact you directly should a suitable vacancy arise at your preferred location during this time.


What we need:

• A commitment to and a passion for building a brighter future for young people with Special Educational Needs

• Someone who will embrace being part of a family of schools, sharing good practice and collaborating with others across a Trust.

• An enthusiastic and positive approach within the classroom part of the wider school and family of schools

• Commitment to own professional development and to enhance those of others in order that we can respond to the needs of our young people

• Consistently high expectations and aspirations for our young people and yourself

• A commitment to fresh and exciting methods to assist the delivery of the curriculum

• A relentless drive to secure the best possible outcomes for all young people in our academies

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Complete commitment to the core values of Ascent


We can offer you:

• An opportunity to work with highly-skilled professionals who love what they do

• Chance to work with our amazing young people and their families

• Excellent career development and progression opportunities

• Comprehensive induction programme

• Opportunity to work across all ages and abilities within the Trust

• Opportunity to work in settings which value multi-disciplinary ways of working

• Access to a range of subject and SEND specific networks, regionally and nationally

• An exciting and extensive commitment to high quality professional development, identified through a strong appraisal process

• A comprehensive wellbeing and support package for staff



This is an exceptional opportunity to make a difference within a positive and exciting environment. If you share our community’s ethos of diversity and collaboration, then we would be delighted to hear from you. For an informal discussion about these posts please contact Mike Finlay by email in the first instance: mfinlay@ascenttrust.org


Application Guidance:

Please use the Skills section to help you complete your application, as these are the criteria that the selection panel will assess when carrying out shortlisting.


Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Applications

We recognise that AI can be a useful tool to support the preparation of job applications. However, all information provided within your application, including examples of experience, achievements and personal statements, must be truthful, factually accurate and drawn directly from your own knowledge, skills and experience. During the selection process, candidates will be expected to discuss and demonstrate the evidence provided within their application.


Please note – if you are appointed, you will be subject to an online search. You will have the opportunity to address any issues of concern that come up during the search during your recruitment process.


The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people with Special Needs and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service

Benefits

31 days Annual Leave plus bank Holidays
Free On-site Parking
Supportive Leave of Absence Policy
Supportive Family Friendly Policy
Ongoing CPD Opportunities
Flexible Working Opportunities
Local Government Pension Scheme
Generous Well-being Offer
Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

GCSE English Grade 9-1 (A-G) or equivalentessential
TA1's Grade A*-G - TA2's Grade A*-C
GCSE Maths Grade 9-1 (A-G) or equivalentessential
TA1's Grade A*-G - TA2's Grade A*-C

Skills

Experience

Describe any experience you have of working with pupils who have PMLD or SLD or ASD and complex physical needs, including meeting their welfare needs, where relevant for the postessential
Describe your understanding of how a teaching assistant support's learning and progress within a SEND environment.essential
Explain how you have worked with other professionals and families to support young peoples SEND.essential
Describe your understanding of safeguarding in SEND and your role as a teaching assistant in ensuring all children/young people are effectively safeguarded.essential
Describe your experience of deescalating a situation when a child/young person may be in crisis.essential

Personal Attributes

A willingness to share knowledge and demonstrate good practice to colleagues from within the academy and to those from other establishments
A willingness to undertake specific training including relating to meeting pupils’ welfare and medical needs
A demonstrable commitment to professional development and self improvement
A passion and zest for working with young people with SEND and supporting our aim of Building Brighter Futures for Young People with SEND

The Ascent Academies Trust

HR Team

hr@ascenttrust.org

6, Defender Court
Sunderland Enterprise Park
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR5 3PE

Safeguarding Information


Please note – if you are appointed, you will be subject to an online search. You will have the opportunity to address any issues of concern that come up during the search during your recruitment process.


The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people with Special Needs and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to a DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.