Learning Support Assistant

Learning Support Assistant

General - The Learning Support Assistant will:

• Have an understanding of the broad range of Special Educational Needs (specific learning difficulties, complex learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, emotional behavioural, mental health & social communication difficulties, ADHD) with reference to how this affects pupils’ learning
• Work under the guidance of teaching / senior staff to implement agreed work programmes
• Provide support for teaching staff across the school in an appropriate learning environment
• Assist with the integration of pupils with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, supporting a small group or on an individual basis within the classroom or on a withdrawal basis
• Be an integral part of the school, working in close partnership with all staff
• To liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher and participate in feedback sessions or meetings as directed

Pupils - The Learning Support Assistant should:

• Assist with the teaching of pupils; whole class, small groups and individuals as directed
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement
• Monitor and evaluate pupils’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learning objectives
• Encourage pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
• Implement local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills

Staff - The Learning Support Assistant should:

• Assist the teacher in curriculum planning, management & preparation of resources
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested
• Undertake marking of pupils’ work and accurately record achievement/progress
• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs
• Implement local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, early years and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills
• Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use

Specific Responsibilities of the Learning Support Assistant at St James’ Catholic High School

• To work with the department and all staff in the promoting of inclusion of young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• To support the learning of pupils with SEND
• To be empathetic, highly supportive and understanding of the needs of individual pupils
• To help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support
• Administer and assess routine tests and invigilate exams/ tests
• Be responsible for keeping and updating your own records in relation to your continued professional development
• To attend training and development sessions
• To work alongside the teacher to ensure that students achieve learning aims
• To provide general clerical/admin support e.g. administer coursework, produce worksheets for agreed activities etc
• To support charity work within school
• To help to develop and maintain Individual Educational Plans (IEPs)
• To be a presence in the classroom, where required
• To attend SEND Departmental meetings

Other Specific Duties

Many specific responsibilities will require collaborative working with other team members which, as the Learning Support Assistant, you will develop proactively

This post is subject to Enhanced DBS disclosure and basic online searches

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task may not be identified

The post holder will be expected to comply with all reasonable requests from the Headteacher and SENCO to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in their job description