Heywood Academy will become the latest new school in the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust.

It is a 75-placement school that offers tailored educational support for children and young people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or who may experience Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN) associated with ASC.

Heywood Academy provides a broad and balanced curriculum that enables pupils from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5 to access creative learning opportunities tailored to meet their individual needs. We have worked hard to continue to be at the forefront of successful, innovative curriculum design, with overall breadth and balance, which provides pupils with ASC and SLCN their full entitlement. As a result, the pupils benefit from excellent opportunities in all aspects of our curriculum to achieve and improve their academic achievement, social skills, communication skills, knowledge, understanding, well-being and physical development.

The school is part of the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust, a vibrant, aspirational and inclusive multi-academy trust of eight special schools and two specialist post-16 provisions across Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale. As part of the wider New Bridge Group there are also two post-19 provisions. All of the children and young people have an EHCP with the Trust supporting a wide spectrum of needs from age 4-19 and beyond. The Trust is proud to be a national leader in Special Education and has a culture of creating outstanding opportunities for all. While each setting operates discreetly, they have a shared passion to improve the life opportunities available to the children and young people once they leave school. They work very closely together to achieve this and ensure that together they best meet the needs of individual pupils. A culture of mutual support and teamwork permeates the organisation.

This is an exciting time for the school as it starts its journey, and it will continue to develop and enhance all aspects of its provision as the pupil numbers increase year on year. If you share our drive, determination and ambition, it offers an outstanding opportunity to develop in a forward-thinking and outward-looking organisation.

Your continued development will also be a priority, and you will receive excellent support and advice from a talented team of colleagues who will invest in your professional learning.

We are looking for innovative and passionate people to become part of a new Heywood Academy staff team. We currently have vacancies for a number of resilient and enthusiastic Level 3 Teaching Assistants to join our fantastic team based in Heywood. Our Level 3 Teaching Assistants will provide face to face interventions and are required to carry out short-term cover in the absence of the class teacher, supported by curriculum leads and senior leadership team.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate how they meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience of providing cover in the short-term absence of the class teacher
• Experience of successfully implementing interventions in supporting social, emotional and behavioural needs
• Previous experience of working with young people of primary/secondary school age who may present with challenging behaviour and complex needs, preferably within an educational setting
• A nurturing and empathetic approach to behaviour management
• The physical and emotional resilience to support pupils with autism taking a non-judgemental approach
• The ability to support teaching and learning within a special needs setting to a dedicated group of pupils
• The ability to support the class teacher to monitor pupil progress, ensuring their improved engagement with the school and their learning
• The ability to record pupil progress and provide regular feedback to stakeholders.
• The ability to model and encourage appropriate social behaviour in and out of school and to cater for the general welfare of pupils.
• The ability to work in partnership with classroom teachers to adapt appropriate interventions for pupils in relation to the curriculum
• The ability to work as part of a team using own initiative when needed
• Willingness to participate in own professional development

Although based initially at our Heywood Academy site, all staff are employed by the MAT and are expected to work at any site within the New Bridge Group

New Bridge MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must have a commitment to safeguarding young people. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and references will be sought prior to interview.

This post will be subject to a number of pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. It will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here.

For all shortlisted candidates, an online search will be carried out as part of our due diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024.

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Based at: Heywood Academy

Closing Date: 24^th March 2026 (9am)

Interviews: TBC

School information: Emma McManus emma.mcmanus@newbridgegroup.org or Louise Needham lneedham@newbridgegroup.org

Completed application forms via email to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org