Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Autism Outreach Team
Job Summary
Working Pattern:
Part time - term time
Advert Start Date:
17/09/2026
Advert End Date:
30/09/2026 23:59
Salary:
Grade 5 £32,046 - £34,811 pro rata Term Time only - 39 weeks Part Time 20 hours per week
Job Category:
Schools - Teaching Assistant
Employment Location:
Bunny Hill / Agile
Further Information
Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Autism Outreach Team
Grade 5 £32,046 - £34,811 pro rata
Term Time only - 39 weeks
Part Time 20 hours per week
Location: Agile - Office base is Bunny Hill, but you will be supporting children and young people in settings across Sunderland.
Interview Day - 16th October 2026 at City Hall, Sunderland
Join our Team
Together for Children Sunderland is on a transformative journey to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people in Sunderland. We are an outstanding Ofsted-rated Children’s service, if you’re committed to helping children, families, and our community thrive and have the skills to support our mission, we would love to hear from you. You can learn more about us here: Together for Children.
About the role
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children? Join the Autism Outreach Team at Together for Children, a well-established and dedicated team of Teachers, Higher Level Teaching Assistants, Teaching Assistants and a Specialist Mental Health Nurse. Based at the Bunny Hill Centre in Sunderland, we provide vital support and guidance to professionals, children and young people. As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively within the wider SEND Specialist Support Services Team.
In this role, you will:
- Lead and model autism-specific support strategies for teachers, teaching assistants and other practitioners, tailored to individual children in primary and secondary settings.
- Contribute to assessing the individual learning needs of children and young people with an autism diagnosis, helping shape the support they receive.
- Develop and deliver training to practitioners, sharing your expertise and helping others enhance their practice.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
We will also carry out an online internet search for information that is publicly available online that might suggest that you are not fit to work with children or young people.
“Due to recent changes in UKVI rules, this role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under the updated eligibility requirements effective 22 July 2025.”
We want you to apply if you:
- Maths and English at GCSE Grade 4 / C (or equivalent)
- Higher Level Teaching Assistants’ Award (HTLA status) or equivalent.
- Minimum of 3 years experience working with SEND in mainstream or specialist settings, including working with young people within Key Stage 3 and 4.
- Experience and knowledge of how best to meet the needs of children and young people with a diagnosis of Autism within a mainstream or specialist setting.
Contact Jo-Anne.Fields@togetherforchildren.org.uk for an informal discussion.
Why work with us?
· Make a difference: Our work matters. The work we do is incredibly rewarding. Join us and make a difference in the lives of our children, families, and community.
· Inclusion: Thrive in our diverse and inclusive culture and be part of our employee networks, including Accessibility, LGBTQ+, Racial Equality, Armed Forces and Menopause.
· Work-Life Balance: We offer a hybrid model of working with agile and flexible working arrangements, including part-time opportunities, flexible hours, and the possibility of remote work arrangements.
· Professional Development: Advance your career with our comprehensive induction, supervision, peer support, and supportive environment.
· Be part of a happier, healthier workforce: Benefit from our wide range of wellbeing activities and employee assistance programmes.
· Attractive Salary, Benefits and Rewards: for additional information please follow this link Together for Children Benefits and rewards · What our team think: About Us
We value diversity and strongly encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including but not limited to various ages, disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, gender identities, sexual orientations, religions, beliefs, races, and ethnicities. We aim for our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
We are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. Please reach out to our EDI Lead inclusion@togetherforchildren.org.uk or peoplesupport@togetherforchildren.org.uk so we can discuss any adjustments or support we can provide during the recruitment process or within the workplace.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked-after young person, are care experienced, or are a veteran.
Are you ready to make a difference?