Learning Support Assistant

London South East Academies Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

London South East Colleges is recruiting to support learners with SEND, enabling access to programmes and services while developing independent study skills. The role involves person-centred support, including potential personal care or mobility assistance, with respect and dignity at all times.

We value strong literacy, numeracy and interpersonal skills, safeguarding awareness, and the ability to adapt to diverse needs in a supportive environment across our campuses in south east London.

Qualifications

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills.
• Ability to build positive, trust-based relationships with learners, staff, parent/carers and professionals.
• Experience of safeguarding, discrimination and barriers faced by learners with additional needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred support to learners with a range of complex needs, including personal care or mobility assistance.
• Help learners engage with College services and activities and develop learning/study skills and outcomes identified in EHCPs.
• Remain calm, professional and learner-focused in a variety of situations while maintaining strong organisation and IT skills.

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 The Company

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.