Inclusion Mentor

Education Partnership North East; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance: 35–48 days + public

Family leave & flexible working

LGPS or Teacher Pension

Lifestyle benefits platform

Dental & eye care

Wellbeing support

Free parking

Job summary

Education Partnership North East (EPNE) is seeking a dedicated Learning Mentor to support students with learning difficulties and disabilities at our Sunderland campuses. The role focuses on integrating learners into college life, assessing needs, and tailoring support plans to help them overcome barriers and achieve success.

You’ll work within a collaborative team, contributing to inclusive practices, and supporting learners across mainstream and SEND-specific provisions.

Qualifications

• Relevant care, learning support, or youth qualification, ideally at least NVQ level 2.
• GCSE Maths and English
• Experience of supporting individuals with SEND or additional learning needs
• Knowledge of Educational Health Care Plans and assessment and support plans
• Awareness of responsibilities under SEND Code of Practice and the Equality Act
• Good written and verbal communication skills

Responsibilities

• To provide learning mentor support to students with learning difficulties and or disabilities, emotional and behaviour needs who are on mainstream or discrete College courses to integrate into the College environment.
• To assist in the implementation of detailed assessments and monitoring and review of support strategies.
• To devise and implement support strategies with senior departmental staff and other college professionals around individual students and groups to overcome their barriers to learning
• To identify possible sources of problems at early stage and to communicate this to teaching staff and departmental manage

Skills

Learning support

SEND experience

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

NVQ level 2 (or equivalent)

GCSE Maths and English

Job description

ClosingDate: 23.59 hours GMT on Monday 02 November 2026

Reference: 0819-26

About the College

Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students.

The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas - Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

Education Partnership North East 34 subscribers

Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives

If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.

In addition, for roles in high-need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling-up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.

Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider, they do not apply to every vacancy.

Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.

In this role, you’ll be a change-maker, working collaboratively with curriculum teams and student support services at our Bede Campus to create and implement personalised strategies that break down barriers to learning, foster independence, and enable students with SEND to achieve their aspirations. Through championing inclusive practice, shaping effective support approaches, and empowering learners to overcome challenges, you’ll play a key role in creating meaningful and lasting improvements to their college experience and future success.

About the Role

Your passion, innovation, and commitment will help shape an inclusive learning environment where every student can thrive. As part of a forward-thinking team, you'll play a key role in driving continuous improvement, influencing positive change, and helping us realise our ambitious vision for excellence in SEND support

Role Responsibilities

• To provide learning mentor support to students with learning difficulties and or disabilities, emotional and behaviour needs who are on mainstream or discrete College courses to integrate into the College environment.
• To assist in the implementation of detailed assessments and monitoring and review of support strategies.
• To devise and implement support strategies with senior departmental staff and other college professionals around individual students and groups to overcome their barriers to learning
• To identify possible sources of problems at early stage and to communicate this to teaching staff and departmental manage

Qualifications

• Relevant care, learning support, or youth qualification, ideally at least at NVQ level 2 (or equivalent).
• GCSE Maths and English
• Experience of supporting individuals with SEND or additional learning needs
• Knowledge of Educational Health Care Plans and assessment and support plans
• Awareness of responsibilities under SEND Code of Practice and the Equality Act
• Good written and verbal communication skills

What’s in it for you?

Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.

• Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35-48 days per year, plus public holidays - (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
• Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
• LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme - depending on role
• Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.
• We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Free parking on most campuses.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At Education Partnership North East (EPNE), we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams to enhance the education and support we provide to our learners and communities.

We recognise that talented individuals may not always follow a traditional career path and may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.

As a Disability Confident Employer and Armed Forces Covenant Member, and with Ofsted Outstanding status across all campuses, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment where everyone can thrive.

Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.

We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults

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