Learning Support Assistant

The challenging and varied role of a Teaching Assistant is ideal for anyone hoping to make a positive impact on the lives of children and young adults.

As a Teaching Assistant, you'll offer practical help and emotional support to children experiencing short or long-term difficulties. The focus of your role is to provide support to students, empowering them to address various challenges, reducing problems and risks and helping to make sure that children are safe. You might help children with a range of social and personal issues or specialise in a particular area such as Autism, Global development delay or downs syndrome.

Job titles vary and you may also be known as a:

• Learning Support Assistant
• Classroom Support
• TA
• Support worker
• Learning Mentor
• Behaviour Support
• SEN Support

Responsibilities

The successful Learning Support Assistant role will vary depending on the needs of the child you're helping, but you may also have a specialist area, depending on your school's focus.

The challenges faced by your students could relate to:

• Challenging behaviour
• Social interaction
• Bullying
• Education and learning
• Language/Communication barriers
• Mental health issues
• Physical disabilities
• Learning difficulties.

As a  Learning Support Assistant, you'll typically need to:

• Follow instructions from Teachers in order to support effectively in the class room
• Adhere to professional practice standards and legislation, including confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion policies
• Ensure you're up-to-date on your knowledge of local service provision for appropriate signposting and referrals
• Support students on 1:1, adapting your approach on a case by case basis in order to engage students effectively
• Help children with learning and development
• Coach, mentor and motivate children to understand the benefits of relevant activities
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date administration and caseload records, including reports of all interactions

Qualifications

Although entry routes into Learning Support Assistant are varied, you'll usually need a combination of relevant experience and qualifications. Typically, employers seek a minimum of a A-C GCSE’s (or equivalent) in Maths & English or a level 2 in one of the following:

• Childcare
• Community work
• Education
• Health & social care
• Youth work

Employers will also usually expect experience and knowledge of safeguarding practices and procedures. We offer a free course in safeguarding awareness to support your application

Work Experience

You'll need relevant work experience with children, young people and their families to work as a Teaching Assistant. You may also have experience from working in one of the following

• Children's homes
• Family community centres
• Mental health services
• Nurseries and schools
• Youth projects.
• Personal experience

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see teachingpersonnel.com/faqs for details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later

Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.

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