Learning Support Assistant

Chichester Free School; South Shields; Presencial; GBP 21.000 - 27.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Chichester Free School is seeking a Learning Support Assistant to join the Secondary Phase (KS3-4) and support pupils with varied needs in class. The position is full-time, 33.75 hours per week, with start in January 2027. The school emphasises nurture, challenge, and inspiration within its inclusive, Ofsted-recognised environment.

Applicants should have prior experience in similar roles, experience in schools, and a commitment to safeguarding. Applications close 11 November 2026.

Formación

• Previous experience of working in a similar role
• Previous experience in a school setting
• Experience of working with pupils with additional needs
• Excellent professional knowledge and understanding of the role essential
• Ability to motivate and encourage children essential
• Decision making skills: the ability to solve problems and make decisions essential
• Teamwork: the ability to work collaboratively with others essential
• Communication skills: the ability to make points clearly and understand the views of others essential
• Self-management skills: the ability to plan time effectively and organise oneself well essential
• Able to communicate with a wide range of audiences including pupils, parents, teachers and associate staff essential
• Articulate, literate and numerate essential
• An understanding of Child Protection procedures and a commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• Ability to teach a small group of children

Conocimientos

Motivation and encouragement

Communication skills

Teamwork

Self-management

Ability to teach small groups

Educación

GCSE or above

Evidence of Professional Development

Descripción del empleo

Hours: Monday-Friday 08.15am-3.30pm.

Start Date: January 2027

We are seeking to expand our dedicated team of Learning Support Assistants. We are looking for colleagues who have the energy, passion and creativity to work as an LSA in our All Through School. Whilst this is an All Through Team, colleagues usually focus on either the Primary or Secondary phase – this opportunity is for the Secondary Phase, working as in class support for children of varied need in Key Stages three and four.

Early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the deadline. We are looking to add a full- time member of staff to our team. Your weekly hours would be 33.75 a week.

CFS is a happy, collaborative and forward- thinking school for 4-16 year olds, where the personal development of our pupils is just as important as the academic curriculum. In our recent Ofsted, inspectors observed that CFS is a vibrant, ambitious and inclusive school, where our respectful and friendly pupils are thriving and are well prepared for their adult lives. Our values of ‘nurture, challenge and inspire’ influence everything we do as a school, and genuinely permeate all areas of school life. If you share our values and ideals, we strongly encourage you to find out more about CFS via a visit to the school or through our school website www.chichesterfreeschool.org.uk.

CFS follows national pay scales and the starting point within the range listed will be agreed on appointment with the successful candidate.

The School

CFS is now entering its second decade and is fully established in our state-of-the-art facilities on the Carmelite Convent Site on the Hunston Road in the south of Chichester. Our PAN is 60 in Primary, and 120 in Secondary; in almost all year groups we are oversubscribed with waiting lists. Due to demand, we have a bulge intake in two Secondary year groups with nearly 160 pupils in each.

The School joined Sussex Learning Trust in September 2023 – a move that we personally initiated through the desire to collaborate with a like-minded family of schools. The Trust is currently small and based in Haywards Heath; CFS are well placed to launch a new Chichester Hub of the Trust, which is really exciting.

As a Free School, we are the same as any other academy; we are both held and hold ourselves to the same exacting and rigorous standards as all state-funded schools. We follow the national curriculum, and are proud of our ambitious, inclusive and varied curriculum offer. Our pupils engage with SATs and GCSE assessments. In May 2024 we received a very strong full graded Ofsted Inspection – graded at least a strong Good in all areas and Outstanding in Personal Development. In 24-25 we achieved our highest attainment in both Year 6 SATs and Year 11 GCSEs, with some exceptional achievement in multiple areas. As a school we are now striving for excellence in all areas.

CFS is open to pupils of all abilities. We do not have a catchment area, thus ensuring the School is fair and inclusive. We take part in the West Sussex County Council (WSCC) admissions process. As a school we benefit from longer holidays, specifically at October half term, Christmas and during the summer.

The Recruitment Process

For further information andan informal discussion about this post, please do not hesitate to contact us via recruitment @chichesterfreeschool.org.uk or on 01243 792690.

Skills

Experience

Previous experience of working in a similar role

Previous experience in a school setting

Experience of working with pupils with additional needs

Personal Attributes

Excellent professional knowledge and understanding of the role essential

Ability to motivate and encourage children essential

Decision making skills: the ability to solve problems and make decisions essential

Teamwork: the ability to work collaboratively with others essential

Communication skills: the ability to make points clearly and understand the views of others essential

Self-management skills: the ability to plan time effectively and organise oneself well essential

Able to communicate with a wide range of audiences including pupils, parents, teachers and associate staff essential

Articulate, literate and numerate essential

An understanding of Child Protection procedures and a commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children

Ability to teach a small group of children

Qualifications

Educated to GCSE or above essential

Evidence of relevant Professional Development

Chichester Free School

School Office

[e-mail]

Sussex Learning Trust
Broad Street
Cuckfield
West Sussex
RH17 5DP

Sussex Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to the equality of opportunity. It expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be subject to a full disclosure and barring service check before appointment is confirmed, along with other relevant pre-employment checks in line with Safer Recruitment and KCSIE.

Job type Full Time

Contract type Permanent

Closing 11/11/2026 08:00

Interview TBC

Contract term TTO Plus - Term time only plus weeks

Pay grade SLT Full Support Staff inc double grades MAT | SCP3 - SCP4