Higher Level Education Assistant

Job Introduction

Would you like to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people who face barriers to accessing education?

The starting salary for this term-time position is £27,747.11 per annum based on a 33.5 hour working week, across 39 weeks per year (pro rata to £34,660 FTE)

These are peripatetic roles, with the majority of your work taking place in pupils' homes or other designated locations/hubs based across your area of Surrey.

We have full-time positions in both the East and West Access to Education teams. We're open to part-time working, but all staff must be available for work between 09:00 - 16:00 on any agreed working day. All staff work on Wednesdays.

• The office base for our West A2E team is Woking
• The office base for our East A2E team is Reigate

Our Offer to you

As part of Access to Education, you will have the opportunity to:

• Make a genuine difference for children and young people experiencing barriers to education.
• Put the needs, experiences and aspirations of learners and their families at the heart of your work.
• Develop your expertise in supporting pupils with SEN, complex needs and medical needs.
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents

About the role

Surrey County Council's Access to Education service is looking for enthusiastic and committed Higher Level Education Assistants to join our teams providing education and support to pupils across both East and West Surrey. You will provide high-quality, personalised education and support to pupils who are unable to attend school, helping them to access learning opportunities, develop their confidence and make progress towards returning to an appropriate education setting.

Every pupil is different, so no two days will be the same. You will work with a changing cohort of young people, including those with complex SEN, medical needs and who often are vulnerable and facing challenging circumstances. The nature of the pupils referred to the service means that you will need to respond confidently and sensitively to a range of behaviours and individual needs.

You will travel to meet pupils and need to be confident working independently in a range of settings. The role involves significant lone working, while remaining connected to a supportive professional team.

You will need to be resilient, flexible, organised and open to changing priorities, putting the needs of each learner at the centre of your planning and decision-making.

You will demonstrate openness and transparency in your communication, keeping colleagues, families and other professionals informed of any changes or developments, ensuring that concerns are raised appropriately, and that you treat all with fairness, consideration and respect.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:

• HLTA qualification or significant equivalent experience, with good understanding of factors affecting children and young people's learning
• Experience supporting learners, including those with complex SEND, on a one‑to‑one and small‑group basis
• Ability to plan and deliver learning activities, motivate learners and support progress
• Ability to support learners to access the curriculum in line with the SEN Code of Practice and contribute to personalised provision
• Ability to monitor progress, adapt approach and produce clear reports, prioritising support for the most vulnerable learners
• Ability to work independently across a range of settings (including the home environment) and build positive, trusting relationships, communicating effectively with learners, families and professionals

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 5 questions:

1. Please describe your experience of working with vulnerable or challenging students, including those with SEND needs.
2. How do you plan and deliver learning activities tailored to individual learners?
3. Please give an example of how you have managed a situation involving safeguarding concerns.
4. How do you prioritise your workload when supporting multiple pupils with different needs?
5. What strategies do you use to build positive relationships with pupils and families?

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and you will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area.

Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and Our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30th October 2026 with interviews planned to follow shortly after.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Katie Johnson via email at Katie.Johnson@surreycc.gov.uk

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Attached documents:

• Higher Level Education Assistant - Job Description.pdf - Higher Level Education Assistant - Job Description

Working conditions

Contract: Permanent N/A

Working hours: 33 hours per week, across 39 weeks per year