Communication Support Worker (Little London Bridge, Resource Provision)

The GORSE Academies Trust; Leeds; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teacher/Local government pension

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Little London Bridge, a Resource Provision within The GORSE Academies Trust in Leeds, seeks a Communication Support Worker for September 2026. You will support a class teacher and a small LSA team, with a strong focus on BSL and inclusive education for pupils with Autism and Complex Communication Needs.

The role offers 37 hours per week, term time plus one week, and a comprehensive benefits package including pension, employee assistance and cycle-to-work scheme.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 1 BSL, Level 2+ preferred.
• DfE induction or equivalent qualifications or experience.
• NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or appropriate classroom experience.

Responsibilities

• Support a class teacher to lead their class and a small team of Level 1 Learning Support Assistants.
• Teach pupils with Autism and Complex Communication Needs to a high quality, embedding independent learning.

Skills

Teamwork

Pupil support

Communication with autistic/CN pupils

Education

Level 1 BSL (minimum)

DfE Teacher Assistant Induction or equivalent

NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or equivalent

Job description

Communication Support Worker (Little London Bridge, Resource Provision)

Required for September 2026

Within GORSE, we are passionate that all children excel, regardless of their background or additional needs. We are, therefore, incredibly excited to advertise for the role of Communication Support Worker within Little London Bridge, a Resource Provision for children with Autism and/or Complex Communication Needs, which opened in January 2025!

Little London Bridge joins our pre-existing resource provisions, Rainbow Base and Horizons. We will cater for over 130 Primary and Secondary students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP’s) respectively by 2026, with Little London Bridge benefiting from the expertise currently available to us from across our trust, whilst forging its own identity within the Little London community.

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Communication Support Worker with a strong understanding of British Sign Language (BSL). The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the need for truly inclusive education, particularly for children with Autism and profound hearing loss. You will be skilled in providing tailored support that empowers our pupils, fostering their independence and enhancing their communication skills.

At Little London Bridge we offer an exciting opportunity to create a new role that directly impacts the lives of our students. You will have the ability to shape the deaf culture within our school, actively contributing to our vision of becoming a centre of excellence for those with a dual diagnosis of Autism and hearing impairment. Join us in this rewarding environment where your contributions will be valued, and your professional development will be supported.

If you have the skills to teach pupils with complex needs to the highest quality and to embed a learning culture that enables children to become enthusiastic and independent learners, then this is the role for you!

The ideal applicant will have:

• Minimum requirement level 1 BSL, although level 2 or above is preferred.
• Completion of DfE Teacher Assistant Induction Programme or equivalent qualifications or experience.
• NVQ 3 for Teaching Assistants or appropriate level of experience of operating in the classroom environment.
• An ability to work constructively as part of a team.
• Experience of working with children with Autism and/or Complex Communication Needs.
• Be ready for an exciting challenge, supporting a class teacher to lead their class and a small team of Level 1 Learning Support Assistants.

What we offer you:

As a trust, we want to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. We are pleased to offer a generous benefits package to our team – as we work together to create a rewarding future for all including:

• Membership of a teacher or local government pension scheme, depending on the role.
• A commitment to continued investment in our professionals, supporting every member of staff throughout their career in the trust.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential professional advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• £2k Cycle to work scheme.

About us:

Little London Academy formally joined The GORSE Academies Trust in February 2024. We are really proud of our Academy and the community we serve. Ours is a happy school in which our pupils are encouraged to become considerate and responsible members of society. Above all, we want our pupils to enjoy their days at school and to know the joys of learning, perseverance and challenge.

Little London Bridge will grow over the next three years to become a provision for 40 primary aged pupils with an EHCP and Autism/Complex Communication Needs. Our provision benefits from multiple teaching spaces, a purpose-built outdoor provision, sensory room and sensory integration room.

All within the Little London Academy community are incredibly excited about the creation of Little London Bridge, which will provide much needed specialist provision places for those within the local community and beyond.

We want our parents, carers and employees to trust us as we work together to make sure every child has the opportunity to achieve their potential – because every child matters. We value the religions, traditions and backgrounds of all our pupils and are proud to have over 70 languages spoken in our school.

If you would like to know more about our academy, please visit our website at Little London Academy.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and we welcome applications from people with disabilities as defined by the Equality Act. If you would benefit from any adjustments during the application or interview process, please inform us so we can support you appropriately.

We arecommitted to safeguarding the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and barring service check.

We promote diversity and aim to establish a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.

Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK – either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

Please note that, as a sponsor licence holder, we only provide sponsorship for teacher vacancies.

Hours: 37 Hours Per Week, Term Time Only + 1 Working Week

Closing Date: Apply Now

Interview Date: To be confirmed