ESOL Classroom Support Assistant

LSEC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Annual season ticket loan

Discounts for Teachers portal

Eduroam: Free Wi-Fi worldwide

On-site gym at Bromley campus

Discounts in in-house restaurants

Job summary

London South East Colleges (LSEC) is seeking a caring ESOL Classroom Support Assistant to join our ESOL team and support learners on the Pre-Entry Study Programme. You will work with a diverse group of students, helping them build English, literacy and study skills while promoting confidence and independent learning.

You will collaborate with teaching staff to foster a supportive environment, prioritising safeguarding, inclusion and positive wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience of working with ESOL learners, young people with limited or interrupted educational backgrounds, or learners requiring additional support.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
• Understanding safeguarding, professional boundaries and responding sensitively to learners.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small-group support to develop learners' English, literacy, study and independence skills.
• Support learners to remove barriers to learning and encourage engagement, attendance, wellbeing and progression.
• Work alongside teaching staff to support learners on the Pre-Entry Study Programme.

Skills

patient

empathetic

resilient

approachable

excellent communication

interpersonal skills

inclusion

supporting young people

Job description

About the role:

The Role

We are looking for a caring, enthusiastic and committed ESOL Classroom Support Assistant to join our ESOL team and support young people studying on our Pre-Entry Study Programme.

Our learners come from a wide range of backgrounds, and many have had limited or interrupted previous education. Some may have experienced displacement, trauma and other significant life challenges and require additional support to develop their confidence, study skills and ability to engage successfully with learning.

Working alongside teaching staff, you will provide individual and small-group support, helping learners to develop their English, literacy, study and independence skills. You will play an important role in removing barriers to learning and supporting positive engagement, attendance, wellbeing, retention and progression.

Skills and Experience

We are looking for someone who is patient, empathetic, resilient and approachable, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a genuine commitment to inclusion and supporting young people.

You will be able to build positive professional relationships with learners while encouraging them to become increasingly confident and independent. You will understand the importance of safeguarding, professional boundaries and responding sensitively to learners who may be experiencing personal or wellbeing challenges.

Experience of working with ESOL learners, young people with limited or interrupted educational backgrounds, or learners requiring additional support would be particularly valuable. Experience of supporting literacy, study skills or learners at Pre-Entry/Entry Level would also be an advantage.

Above all, you will be committed to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment and helping young people develop the skills and confidence they need to progress to their next stage of education.

About Us

The College

London South East Colleges (LSEC) is one of London’s largest and most successful further education providers, with seven campuses across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lambeth and around 1,000 staff. Each year, we support more than 13,000 students through a wide portfolio of vocational courses, apprenticeships and other programmes that are closely aligned to employer and industry need.

What brings people to work here, and keeps them here, is the sense of purpose. We exist to change lives through learning, and that ambition runs through everything we do. Our staff work with learners from all backgrounds, many of whom face significant barriers, and play a direct role in improving social mobility and life chances across south east London and beyond.

We are committed to developing our people. This includes high-quality professional development, leadership and management training, and clear opportunities for progression across the College and the wider Group. We encourage colleagues to develop their skills, share expertise and build long-term careers with us, supported by a culture that values collaboration, professionalism and continuous improvement.

We invest heavily in our learning environments, with modern facilities and strong partnerships with employers, universities and local communities. This enables our staff to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality education and training that equips learners with the skills, confidence and resilience to succeed in work and in life.

LSEC is part of the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also sponsors London South East Academies Trust. The Trust is a growing and successful Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision schools across Bromley, Bexley, Surrey, Sussex and Lambeth. This gives colleagues the opportunity to work within a genuinely joined-up education system, spanning schools, colleges and higher education.

The Group has also recently established the Elevare Education Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and families across the region through targeted programmes and practical support. This reflects our wider civic mission and commitment to making a meaningful difference beyond our campuses.

With a combined turnover of around £130m and clear ambitions for growth and improvement, this is an organisation that is forward-looking, values expertise and encourages people to contribute ideas and shape the future. There has rarely been a more interesting time to join us.

Benefits

We offer a highly competitive benefits package, including excellent annual leave and a generous pension through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme depending on role.

Additional benefits include:

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Annual season ticket loan
• Access to the Discounts for Teachers portal
• Free Wi-Fi access in over 10,000 locations worldwide through Eduroam
• Access to our on-site gym at Bromley campus and discount at other local gyms
• Discounts in our in-house restaurants and on hair and beauty treatments

Equal Opportunities

London South East Colleges is fully committed to equality of opportunity and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we guarantee an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact People Services at [e-mail].

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates to assess suitability for working with children and young people. Our full Safeguarding policy can be found here.

Because we work with children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to disclose relevant information or provide a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. Our DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.

All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.