Higher Level Teaching Assistant Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Deliver planned learning activities within assigned scope.
• Lead targeted interventions and evaluate progress.
• Support classroom organisation and resource preparation.
• Guide teaching assistants where delegated.
• Record pupil outcomes safeguarding and handovers.

A realistic working scenario

Working on school premises and approved education activities, the HLTA leads small-group teaching from lesson or activity plans, adapts resources to SEN records, records attendance and progress in assessment systems, enters safeguarding or welfare notes into the school's safeguarding records, and contacts the practice or department manager for safeguarding, persistent conduct or SEN-capacity decisions.

Outputs to agree

• Deliver small-group or whole-class sessions from lesson or activity plans and record adaptations.
• Update attendance registers and assessment/progress records on learning platforms after each session.
• Create and upload safeguarding or welfare notes into the school's safeguarding records when disclosures occur.
• Implement SEN adjustments documented in SEN records and report unmet needs to the practice or department manager.

Records and evidence

• Lesson or activity plans showing session aims and adaptations for learners.
• Attendance registers and learning platform entries for each group or pupil.
• Assessment and progress records used for reporting and review.
• Safeguarding records capturing disclosures, actions taken and referrals.
• SEN records documenting adjustments, support plans and outcomes.
• Parent or carer communications logged where consent or concern is recorded.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Class Teacher, SENCO or Headteacher. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• The HLTA may deliver teaching from existing lesson or activity plans, adjust resources within documented SEN records and record attendance, assessment and welfare entries. The HLTA must escalate safeguarding disclosures, suspected child welfare risk, referrals for additional SEN support or persistent conduct that affects safety to the practice or department manager for approval or onward referral.
• May allocate routine work and make operational decisions only within documented staffing, financial, contractual and policy limits.

Supervision

• Lead targeted interventions and evaluate progress.
• Allocate and review assigned work within delegated authority and escalate formal people matters through the Employer's procedures.

Tools and systems

• Assessment systems.
• School communication systems.
• Classroom equipment.

Workplace context

• School, college or other agreed education premises and authorised off-site educational activities.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.

Contract priorities

• Protect pupil confidentiality for safeguarding, SEN and assessment data at all times.
• Ensure attendance and assessment records on learning platforms are accurate and up to date.
• Record safeguarding or welfare disclosures immediately in the school's safeguarding records.
• Escalate suspected child welfare risk, safeguarding disclosures or SEN-capacity requests to the practice or department manager.
• Deliver planned sessions and document any deviations from lesson or activity plans.

Information the employer should prepare

• the qualification status and recognised HLTA duties
• the classes subjects and interventions covered
• the extent of planned class supervision
• the support-staff coordination responsibility
• the timetable term-time and training arrangements