Job Summary
Elmlea Junior School Bristol
Role Overview
We are seeking a dedicated, patient and enthusiastic 1:1 Learning Support Assistant to provide consistent individual support to a pupil throughout the academic year.
The successful candidate will work closely with one student, providing a combination of educational, cognitive, social and emotional support to help them access learning, overcome barriers, develop independence and make meaningful progress.
This is a relationship-focused role where consistency is extremely important. The Learning Support Assistant will take the time to understand the pupil as an individual, recognising their strengths, interests, needs and potential barriers to learning. Support will then be adapted accordingly to help the pupil engage positively with their education and wider school experience.
Key Responsibilities1:1 Educational Support
- Provide dedicated 1:1 support throughout the school day in accordance with the pupil's individual needs.
- Support the pupil in accessing classroom teaching, activities and the wider curriculum.
- Reinforce learning delivered by the class teacher through individual explanations, prompts and targeted activities.
- Break down tasks and instructions into manageable steps where appropriate.
- Support the development of literacy, numeracy, communication and other key curriculum skills.
- Adapt activities and resources to ensure learning is accessible and appropriately challenging.
- Help the pupil develop effective learning strategies and greater confidence in their academic ability.
- Encourage active participation while avoiding unnecessary dependence on adult support.
- Provide targeted intervention or catch-up activities where directed by teaching staff.
Cognitive Development
The Learning Support Assistant will help develop the underlying cognitive skills that contribute to successful learning and independence.
This may include supporting the pupil with:
- Attention, concentration and maintaining focus.
- Working memory and information retention.
- Processing and understanding instructions.
- Problem-solving and reasoning.
- Organisation and task management.
- Planning and sequencing activities.
- Developing strategies for overcoming challenges.
- Flexible thinking and adapting to changes.
- Developing greater independence when completing tasks.
- Recognising when and how to appropriately ask for help.
Support should focus not only on helping the pupil complete individual tasks, but also on developing the skills and strategies that enable them to become a more confident and independent learner over time.
Social and Emotional Development
- Build a positive, professional and trusting relationship with the pupil.
- Provide a consistent and reassuring presence throughout the academic year.
- Support the pupil in recognising, communicating and managing their emotions.
- Help develop confidence, resilience and positive self-esteem.
- Encourage appropriate communication and positive relationships with peers and adults.
- Support the development of social skills where required.
- Help the pupil manage frustration, setbacks or challenging situations appropriately.
- Recognise potential triggers or barriers to engagement and implement agreed strategies.
- Celebrate progress and achievement to reinforce positive behaviours and attitudes towards learning.
Independence and Personal Development
A key objective of the role is to help the pupil become progressively more independent.
The Learning Support Assistant should provide the appropriate level of support while recognising opportunities to gradually reduce prompts and direct assistance.
This will include:
- Encouraging the pupil to attempt tasks independently.
- Developing routines and organisational skills.
- Teaching strategies the pupil can use without adult intervention.
- Encouraging appropriate decision-making and problem-solving.
- Developing confidence in unfamiliar situations.
- Supporting successful transitions between lessons, activities and environments.
- Encouraging the pupil to recognise and reflect upon their own progress.
Individual Support Planning
The Learning Support Assistant will work collaboratively with relevant school professionals to ensure support is appropriate, consistent and measurable.
This may involve working alongside the:
- Class Teacher
- SENCO
- Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Pastoral Team
- School Leadership Team
- Parents/carers, where appropriate
- External professionals involved with the pupil
Where applicable, support should contribute towards targets contained within the pupil's Individual Education Plan (IEP), support plan, EHCP or other agreed provision plan.
Monitoring and Progress
The successful candidate will be expected to contribute towards monitoring the pupil's progress throughout the academic year.
Responsibilities may include:
- Recording relevant observations and progress.
- Monitoring engagement and participation.
- Identifying successful strategies and areas requiring further support.
- Providing feedback to teaching staff and relevant professionals.
- Contributing towards reviews of individual targets.
- Maintaining accurate and confidential records where required.
- Supporting the establishment of clear, measurable objectives for the pupil.
- Recognising and celebrating academic, cognitive, social and personal progress.
Support strategies should be regularly reviewed and adapted according to the pupil's development.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
The successful candidate will have a responsibility to promote and safeguard the welfare of the pupil at all times.
They must:
- Follow the school's and employer's safeguarding and child protection procedures.
- Immediately report any safeguarding concerns or disclosures through the appropriate channels.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Handle confidential information appropriately.
- Follow relevant behaviour, health and safety, data protection and equality procedures.
- Never promise confidentiality to a child where a safeguarding concern has been disclosed.
The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and relevant barred-list checks where legally applicable to the role.
Person Specification
We are looking for an individual who is:
- Patient, compassionate and understanding.
- Reliable and committed to providing consistency throughout the academic year.
- Positive and encouraging.
- Able to build strong professional relationships with children and young people.
- Calm and resilient when dealing with challenging situations.
- Able to adapt their communication and approach to meet individual needs.
- Confident supporting educational activities.
- Able to recognise when to provide support and when to encourage independence.
- Observant and able to recognise changes in behaviour, engagement or wellbeing.
- Organised and able to maintain appropriate records.
- Able to communicate effectively with teachers, SENCOs and other professionals.
- Committed to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
- Professional, trustworthy and able to maintain confidentiality.
Desirable Experience and Qualifications
Previous experience within one or more of the following areas would be advantageous:
- Learning support or teaching assistance.
- 1:1 pupil support.
- SEND provision.
- Mentoring or pastoral support.
- Alternative learning provision.
- Youth work.
- Education or childcare.
- Supporting children with additional learning, communication, behavioural or emotional needs.
- Driving Licence
Relevant qualifications in Supporting Teaching and Learning, Education, SEND, Childcare, Youth Work, Psychology or a related field would also be beneficial.
Primary Aim of the Role
The overall purpose of the position is to provide the pupil with a consistent, positive and individualised support system throughout the academic year.
Success should not simply be measured by how much work the pupil completes while supported. The ultimate objective is to help the individual make sustainable progress in their education, cognitive development, confidence, resilience and independence.
By the end of the academic year, the aim is for the pupil to have developed stronger learning strategies, increased confidence in their own abilities and greater capacity to access education as independently as possible.
Pay: £18,500.00-£22,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
