Individual Needs Assistant Fixed Term 1 Year
Mulberry Academy St Leonards, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 8HH10 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
3 July 2026 at 9am
Date listed
23 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Fixed term - 1 Year
Actual salary
- £24,796 Per annum, pro rata
What skills and experience we're looking for
Knowledge, skills and experience
Education and Training
- A good standard foundation in numeracy and literacy.
- A commitment to ongoing professional development and reflective practice to continually improve teaching and learning.
Experience
- Experience of supporting young people in a school setting, with a proven ability to engage and inspire students of all abilities.
- An understanding of how to support students of different abilities to access learning and make progress.
- A commitment to developing effective strategies to raise achievement and support positive learning behaviours.
Knowledge and Skills
- A commitment to high expectations and inclusive support, ensuring all students can access the curriculum.
- The ability to motivate and engage students of all abilities.
- Strong organisational and communication skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute positively to the department and wider school community.
Personal Qualities
- A clear passion and drive to be an excellent LSA, inspiring and supporting young people to succeed.
- A genuine enthusiasm for Inclusion.
- An effective communicator who works positively with students, colleagues and parents.
- A commitment to high professional standards and continuous improvement.
- Resilience, enthusiasm and energy, with a willingness to learn and develop.
What the school offers its staff
Why Mulberry Academy St Leonards?
We’re proud of our people. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards, we are building a culture where pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together in the service of our community. When you join our school, you will find a place where you belong and where your work truly makes a difference to the lives of young people.
Working in education is not always easy. We recognise the effort, creativity and commitment our staff bring every day. We value this deeply and show our appreciation by creating a culture where staff are supported to grow, develop and thrive.
Providing talent development opportunities
We want ambitious and talented people to join Mulberry Academy St Leonards because they want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
Professional development is central to our culture. All teaching staff benefit from weekly professional development, and each year we dedicate a two-week professional development programme in October. During this time teachers deepen their practice and collaborate on improving teaching and learning, while colleagues in support roles have structured time designed specifically for their own professional development.
We also build coaching into teachers’ timetables, ensuring every teacher benefit from regular professional dialogue, reflection and support to continually develop their practice.
As part of the Mulberry Schools Trust, staff benefit from Trust-wide expertise, strong collaboration, and opportunities to grow professionally. The East London Teaching School Hub further enhances this offer, delivering nationally recognised programmes and enabling staff to engage in and contribute to training across all career stages.
Providing a good pension
When you join the Mulberry Schools Trust, you will have access to an excellent pension scheme — either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on your role.
Offering flexible working
We recognise the importance of balancing work and home life. We consider flexible and family-friendly working opportunities wherever possible, including part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards we also design timetables to support staff wellbeing. All teachers receive a weekly PPA sessions and an afternoon/ morning well being time offsite.
Supporting your health and wellbeing
Balancing everyday life with the requirements of work can create pressures for all of us. Work is a significant part of our lives and we are committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment.
All employees have free access to a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service, designed to support staff with a range of personal and professional challenges.
Recognising that the autumn term is the longest and most demanding, we restructured our calendar to better support staff wellbeing with a two-week break in October.
Actively promoting equality and diversity
Mulberry Academy St Leonards is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive community. We want the very best people to work in our school regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family status or marital status. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from historically under-represented and minority groups, helping ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.
Further information about the job
About the role
We are seeking a compassionate, dedicated, and proactive Individual Needs Assistant to provide one-to-one support for a student with complex and high-level medical needs. The successful candidate will play a vital role in ensuring the student's safety, wellbeing, and inclusion within the school environment, enabling them to access learning opportunities and participate fully in school life.
Working closely with teaching staff, parents/carers, and healthcare professionals, the Individual Needs Assistant will provide support and care in accordance with the student's care plan, monitor their wellbeing throughout the school day, and respond appropriately to their individual needs. The role requires someone who is patient, nurturing, and confident in supporting children with complex medical requirements, while promoting independence, dignity, and positive relationships.
This is a rewarding opportunity for an individual who is committed to making a meaningful difference in a child's educational experience and who understands the importance of providing consistent, high-quality support tailored to the student's unique needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide dedicated one-to-one support for a student with complex and high-level medical needs throughout the school day.
- Implement and follow the student's individual healthcare plan, risk assessments, and educational support plans.
- Deliver medical support as required, in accordance with training received and school policies.
- Monitor the student's health, wellbeing, and comfort, responding appropriately to any changes in condition or medical emergencies.
- Support the student to access learning activities, encouraging participation, engagement, and independence wherever possible.
- Adapt activities and resources to meet the student's individual needs and abilities.
- Promote the student's social, emotional, and physical wellbeing, supporting positive interactions with peers and staff.
- Maintain accurate records of medical interventions, incidents, observations, and daily support provided.
- Liaise effectively with teachers, parents/carers, healthcare professionals, and external agencies to ensure consistent and coordinated support.
- Attend and contribute to review meetings, including Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) meetings and multi-agency meetings where appropriate.
- Support the student during educational visits, extracurricular activities, and transitions throughout the school day.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information in accordance with data protection requirements.
- Ensure safeguarding and child protection procedures are followed at all times, reporting any concerns promptly.
- Participate in relevant training and professional development to maintain and enhance knowledge and skills relating to complex medical needs and inclusive practice.
- Work collaboratively as part of the wider school team to promote an inclusive, safe, and supportive learning environment.
General
- Promote equal opportunities and inclusion, challenging and addressing immediately any situation where these falls short of the standards expected in our school.
- Promote and actively support the ethos and values of the school and Trust.
- Support and contribute to the school’s commitment to the continued professional development of all staff, including engagement with training and professional learning opportunities.
- Work within the school’s Health and Safety framework, ensuring safe practices are always followed.
- Be aware of and assume the appropriate level of responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
- Report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with the Trust’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Executive Principal or Leadership Team, consistent with the nature and level of the role.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Mulberry Academy St Leonards
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- Up to 1500 pupils
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Mulberry Academy St Leonards website
- Email address
- g.sidders@stleonards.mulberryschoolstrust.org
- Phone number
- 01424448740
Why Mulberry Academy St Leonards?
We’re proud of our people. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards, we are building a culture where pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together in the service of our community. When you join our school, you will find a place where you belong and where your work truly makes a difference to the lives of young people.
Working in education is not always easy. We recognise the effort, creativity and commitment our staff bring every day. We value this deeply and show our appreciation by creating a culture where staff are supported to grow, develop and thrive.
Providing talent development opportunities
We want ambitious and talented people to join Mulberry Academy St Leonards because they want to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
Professional development is central to our culture. All teaching staff benefit from weekly professional development, and each year we dedicate a two-week professional development programme in October. During this time teachers deepen their practice and collaborate on improving teaching and learning, while colleagues in support roles have structured time designed specifically for their own professional development.
We also build coaching into teachers’ timetables, ensuring every teacher benefit from regular professional dialogue, reflection and support to continually develop their practice.
As part of the Mulberry Schools Trust, staff benefit from Trust-wide expertise, strong collaboration, and opportunities to grow professionally. The East London Teaching School Hub further enhances this offer, delivering nationally recognised programmes and enabling staff to engage in and contribute to training across all career stages.
Providing a good pension
When you join the Mulberry Schools Trust, you will have access to an excellent pension scheme — either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme, depending on your role.
Offering flexible working
We recognise the importance of balancing work and home life. We consider flexible and family-friendly working opportunities wherever possible, including part-time, term-time and job-share arrangements. At Mulberry Academy St Leonards we also design timetables to support staff wellbeing. All teachers receive a weekly PPA sessions scheduled as an afternoon, which can be worked remotely if teachers wish, supporting a healthy work life balance.
Supporting your health and wellbeing
Balancing everyday life with the requirements of work can create pressures for all of us. Work is a significant part of our lives and we are committed to creating a healthy and supportive working environment.
All employees have free access to a 24-hour confidential counselling and wellbeing service, designed to support staff with a range of personal and professional challenges.
Recognising that the autumn term is the longest and most demanding, we restructured our calendar to better support staff wellbeing with a two-week break in October.
Actively promoting equality and diversity
Mulberry Academy St Leonards is committed to building an equal, diverse and inclusive community. We want the very best people to work in our school regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy, family status or marital status. We are particularly keen to receive applications from candidates from historically under-represented and minority groups, helping ensure our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.
Arranging a visit to Mulberry Academy St Leonards
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email g.sidders@stleonards.mulberryschoolstrust.org.
School location
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