Learning Support Assistant (LSA) — Barnstaple

SENse Learning; Barnstaple; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedule

Self-employed contract

Job summary

SENse Learning is seeking Learning Support Assistants to provide one-to-one mentoring and learning support for SEND learners. Roles include Education Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, and Education Mentor across homes, schools, and community settings.

We offer flexible hours, remote options, and a self-employed engagement model. Applicants should have at least 2 years’ experience with children or young people with complex needs, be UK-based with the right to work, and prepared to undergo

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people with complex needs (ASC, ADHD, SEMH, EBSA, trauma, PDA, mental health).
• Enhanced DBS (facilitated if needed) and 2+ professional references.
• Based in the UK with the right to work in the UK, including remote/online roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children and young people.
• Provide one-to-one support in homes and community settings with creative activities.
• Support development of life skills, confidence and independence.
• Use trauma-informed approaches and flexible strategies for diverse needs.
• Model and encourage emotional regulation.
• Provide feedback and track progress to adapt support.

Skills

2+ years experience with children

Trauma-informed approaches

Child-centred teaching style

Creative, engaging sessions

Job description

You can make a difference, support creatively, and work within a more fulfilling and rewarding career

SENse Learning is offering a unique opportunity for passionate mentors to make a real impact!

You can begin to work in an impact-first role with SENse Learning. Our Learning Support Assistant roles allow you to provide one-to-one mentoring and learning support for the most in-need young people, working across a variety of specialisms as an Education Assistant, SEN Teaching Assistant, and Education Mentor.

Multiple positions are available, hiring is ongoing, and interviews are being arranged as applications are received.

What makes this Learning Support Assistant role right for you:

• Loved working in care but can’t make the hours work for you?
• Our Learning Support Assistants deliver 1.1 holistic packages of support to young people not able to attend any other setting. Motivating our young people with creative, interest-based sessions of learning, our Learning Support Assistants enable disengaged students to thrive.

The Benefits We Offer Our Learning Support Assistant

• Competitive pay: £18 – £23 per hour
• Flexible working: Craft your own schedule with in-person, hybrid, and community-based support opportunities, agreeing session times with parents, carers, or schools
• Flexible hours: Flexible part-time up to full-time hours, arranged in consultation with clients and schools to suit your schedule
• Meaningful work: Support young people who are often excluded or disengaged from traditional education
• Pastoral and Pathways Support: SENse Learning keeps a team around you and the child
• Community and Company Events: Knowledge sharing and resources
• Referral Programme: Get rewarded for successful tutor referrals

At SENse Learning, you will join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to forward-thinking approaches to supporting SEND Learners; be part of a team that believes in shaping a brighter future for every student.

Learning Support Assistant Role Requirements

• Experience: At least 2 years of experience working with children or young people with complex additional needs (e.g. ASC, ADHD, SEMH, EBSA, trauma, PDA, mental health)
• Background: Ideal for Support Workers, Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), Teaching Assistants (TAs), Higher-Level TAs, Youth Workers, Personal Assistants (PAs), or those with other relevant care or education backgrounds
• Approach: Understanding of how to work in a child-centred, holistic way; you will have the ingenuity and creativity to make the curriculum work in an individual, student-centred way
• Compliance: Enhanced DBS (we can facilitate this if needed) and 2+ professional references
• Location: You must be based in the UK with the right to work in the UK, even for remote / online jobs
• Safeguarding: Knowledge of safeguarding and creating a safe learning environment

The Learning Support Assistant Role And Responsibilities

• Develop strong, positive relationships with children and young people who may have faced significant challenges in previous education settings
• Provide one-to-one support in homes and community settings, delivering creative and interest-based activities
• Support the development of life skills, confidence, and independence.
• Use trauma-informed approaches and flexible strategies to support a wide range of additional needs.
• Understand the importance of emotional regulation and implement strategies to model and encourage this.
• Provide feedback and reflections to track progress and adapt support where needed.

At SENse Learning, we are on a mission to raise the standard of education for young people with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), as well as those with SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs. We are increasingly supporting children and young people with MLD (Moderate Learning Difficulties), SLD (Severe Learning Difficulties), and PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties). We passionately believe in the transformative power of education, and through bespoke, one-to-one lessons, our dedicated team makes a positive impact on students’ lives every day. Join us and be part of our mission!

Applying

• We welcome mentors from all backgrounds – our learners come from diverse communities and our organisation must reflect and represent their experiences

We take Safer Recruitment seriously. All candidates must pass through our safer recruitment process to ensure their suitability to work with children and young people

Learning Support Assistant Employment Status

• This position involves engaging with us as a self-employed mentor
• We provide guidance / signposting on accessing resources to register as self-employed if you are not registered already
• This is not a PAYE position

Relevant Job Titles / Previous Experience

Individuals with highly relevant experience from teaching background often have worked in the following roles:

• SENDCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator)
• SLD / MLD Teacher
• Autism / ADHD Support Teacher
• Intervention Specialist / Teacher / Tutor
• Ex-Teacher

Other highly relevant roles from therapeutic and learning support background include

• Learning Support Assistant (LSA) / Teaching Assistant (TA)
• Educational Therapist
• Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)
• Educational Psychologist (EP)
• Inclusion Coordinator

If you hold one of these roles, meet our requirements, and are considering a career change please do consider applying with us.

Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every applicant. We aim to respond to all successful applicants within two weeks.