Specialist Learning Support Assistant

Teaching Personnel; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

Teaching Personnel Ltd. is recruiting Specialist Learning Support Assistants to support pupils aged 3-19 with complex additional learning needs in Cardiff and Penarth.

The role involves helping learners access education, develop communication skills, and achieve personal goals in a nurturing, inclusive setting. You will work 08:30–15:30, Monday–Friday, with no weekend work, providing 1:1 and small-group support across the curriculum and collaborating with teachers, therapists and support staff

Qualifications

• Experience in education, care, support work, residential childcare, youth work, mental health services, or work with vulnerable children or young people.
• Patience, resilience and compassion are essential.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills are important.
• Calm under pressure and adaptable to different situations.
• Desirable: experience supporting pupils with Autism, ALN, SEMH or complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored 1:1 and small-group support.
• Assist pupils in accessing learning across the curriculum.
• Promote communication, engagement and social development.
• Support pupils with personal care where required.
• Use positive behaviour and de-escalation strategies.
• Encourage independence and confidence in daily activities.
• Support sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing.
• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils.
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists and wider support staff.
• Maintain accurate records and observations when required.
• Be a positive role model throughout the school day.

Job description

Specialist Learning Support Assistant (ALN & Complex Needs)

Cardiff and Penarth
08:30 - 15:30 | Monday-Friday | No Weekends
From £14.25 per hour

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people with additional learning needs? Do you want to make a genuine difference in the lives of pupils who require specialist support to reach their full potential?

Teaching Personnel is currently recruiting Learning Support Assistants to work within highly regarded specialist educational provisions in Cardiff. These settings support children and young people aged 3-19 with a wide range of complex additional learning needs, offering a nurturing, inclusive, and pupil-centred environment where every achievement is celebrated.

About the Role

As a Specialist Learning Support Assistant, you will play a vital role in helping pupils access education, build independence, develop communication skills, and achieve personal goals.

You will support learners with a range of needs, including:

• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
• Severe and Profound Learning Difficulties (SLD/PMLD)
• Complex Additional Learning Needs (ALN)
• Physical and Medical Needs
• Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties
• Sensory Processing Difficulties
• ADHD
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
• Challenging behaviours linked to communication difficulties, anxiety, trauma, or unmet needs

No two days are the same. You could be supporting communication through visual aids, helping pupils regulate emotions, assisting with life skills, or adapting learning activities to suit individual needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide tailored 1:1 and small-group support
• Assist pupils in accessing learning across the curriculum
• Promote communication, engagement, and social development
• Support pupils with personal care where required
• Use positive behaviour and de-escalation strategies
• Encourage independence and confidence in daily activities
• Support sensory regulation and emotional wellbeing
• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils
• Work collaboratively with teachers, therapists, and wider support staff
• Maintain accurate records and observations when required
• Be a positive role model throughout the school day

What We're Looking For

We welcome applications from individuals with experience in education, care, support work, residential childcare, youth work, mental health services, sports coaching, psychology, health-related studies, or working with vulnerable adults.

The ideal candidate will be:

• Patient, resilient, and compassionate
• Confident building positive relationships with children and young people
• A strong communicator with the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team
• Calm under pressure and able to adapt to different situations
• Passionate about supporting pupils with additional learning needs to achieve their full potential
• Experienced in supporting individuals with Autism, ALN, SEMH, learning difficulties, or complex needs (desirable but not essential)

Most importantly, we're looking for people who are committed to making a positive difference and are willing to learn, develop, and grow within a specialist educational environment.

Why Join This Role?

• Make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people
• Gain valuable experience within specialist education settings
• Work alongside experienced teachers, therapists, and support teams
• Develop specialist ALN, Autism, and SEMH knowledge
• Competitiv