Learning Support Assistant

Schools Week; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work

Season ticket loan

Discounts for Teachers portal

Eduroam wifi access

On-site gym at Bromley campus

Job summary

London South East Colleges in London is seeking a dedicated Learning Support Assistant to provide person-centred support to learners with SEND. You will help learners access programmes, engage with services and develop skills identified in EHCPs, supporting independence and dignity.

Strong literacy and numeracy, safeguarding awareness and calm professionalism are essential. Experience in SEN in secondary or FE is desirable.

Qualifications

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills are essential.
• Ability to build positive, trust-based relationships with learners, staff and carers.
• Clear understanding of safeguarding and barriers faced by learners with additional needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred support to learners with SEND.
• Help learners access College programmes and services.
• Support development of learning skills identified in EHCPs and promote independence.

Skills

Literacy & numeracy

Relationship building

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Empathy

Tools

IT skills

Administrative software

Job description

About the role

Please note we do not have a fixed closing date; instead, we will close the role once we have received a sufficient number of applicants to interview. We encourage early applications to ensure you don't miss out. The Role

You will play an important part in supporting our team to provide high-quality learning and accessibility support to young people and adults with SEND. This includes enabling learners to access and achieve within their programmes, helping them engage with College services and activities, and supporting the development of learning/study skills and outcomes identified in their Educational Health & Care Plans (EHCPs).

The role involves providing person-centred support to learners with a range of complex needs, including severe learning difficulties and disabilities. Some learners may require personal care or mobility assistance, and you will approach this with sensitivity, respect and dignity at all times. You may work with individuals or small groups, adapting your style to meet diverse needs and encouraging learners to develop independence where possible.

Skills and Experience

You will bring strong literacy and numeracy skills, along with the ability to build positive, trust‑based relationships with learners, staff, parent/carers and professionals. Experience of working in a multicultural community and a clear understanding of safeguarding, discrimination and the barriers faced by learners with additional needs are essential.

You will be confident supporting learners with personal care and mobility needs, responding to their preferences and encouraging autonomy. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are important, as is the ability to remain calm, professional and learner‑focused in a variety of situations.

You will also bring good organisational skills, reliable IT abilities and sound administrative practice. Being adaptable, solution‑focused and able to respond to changing needs throughout the day will support you in this role. Experience of working with SEN learners in a secondary or FE setting is desirable, although we welcome applications from candidates with transferable skills.

About Us

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.

• 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.