Learning Support Assistant

Teaching Personnel Ltd.; Sherborne; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly pay

CPD and training opportunities

MyTP management tool access

Job summary

Teaching Personnel is recruiting an experienced Learning Support Assistant for a specialist alternative provision in Sherborne. The role focuses on supporting students with SEMH, autism and moderate learning difficulties, helping them re-engage with learning and build confidence.

The post requires calm, resilient staff who can set clear boundaries, maintain rapport and work closely with teachers to deliver consistent support.

Qualifications

• Previous relevant experience is required.
• Experience with SEMH, autism and moderate learning difficulties is valuable.
• Qualifications and training for this role are required.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 and small-group classroom support.
• Help pupils re-engage with education and rebuild confidence.
• Encourage participation when motivation is low.
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour.
• Reinforce routines, expectations and boundaries.
• Recognise triggers and respond calmly when situations are challenging.
• Work with teachers and professionals to provide consistent support.
• Encourage independence, resilience and positive choices.

Skills

1:1 support

Small-group support

Behaviour support

Emotional regulation

Engagement strategies

Tools

SEMH experience

Job description

Teaching Personnel is recruiting an experienced Learning Support Assistant for a specialist alternative provision in Sherborne.

The setting supports young people who may have been permanently excluded or be at risk of exclusion from mainstream education, alongside pupils requiring support with SEMH, autism and moderate learning difficulties.

Students may have experienced significant barriers to education and need personalised academic, social and emotional support to successfully re-engage with learning

This is a hands‑on role where relationships matter.

• Provide 1:1 and small-group classroom support.
• Help pupils re-engage with education and rebuild confidence.
• Encourage participation when motivation towards learning is low.
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour.
• Reinforce routines, expectations and appropriate boundaries.
• Recognise triggers and respond calmly when situations become challenging.
• Work closely with teachers and other professionals to provide consistent support.
• Encourage independence, resilience and positive choices.

We need someone with previous relevant experience who understands that behaviour can often communicate an unmet need.

Students need staff who are calm, resilient, fair and dependable. You must be able to build rapport without lowering expectations, remain composed when a young person is struggling and avoid taking challenging behaviour personally.

Consistency is key. Pupils need adults who mean what they say, follow through positively and give them another opportunity when a day has not gone to plan.

Due to the nature of the setting, we are seeking someone who already has suitable experience and can hit the ground running. Experience within SEMH, SEND, alternative provision, PRU or behaviour support would be particularly valuable.

Working with Teaching Personnel gives you access to weekly pay, CPD and training opportunities, myTP for managing your work online and support in finding education opportunities suited to your experience.

If you are an experienced support professional who can combine clear boundaries with genuine encouragement, we want to hear from you.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.