Learning and Support Assistant

Larwood School, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 5BZ

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  9th March 2026

• Closing date

  20 February 2026 at 10:59pm

• Date listed

  4 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £19,399.00 - £20,447.00 Annually (Actual)

Learning and Support Assistant job summary

Brighter Futures Educational Trust

At Brighter Futures Educational Trust, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued and supported in their learning. We are proud of our inclusive ethos and are committed to building a diverse workforce. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity, age, disability, or marriage and civil partnership.

If you are passionate about supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and want to make a meaningful difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

We are seeking a caring, resilient and motivated Learning and Support Assistant to become a secure and trusted adult for a designated group of students. You will play a vital role in helping learners feel safe, included and ready to engage with learning, while supporting their emotional wellbeing and personal development.

Working closely with teachers, support staff, families and external professionals, you will help students overcome barriers to learning and build the skills they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

What you’ll be doing

In this rewarding role, you will:

• Provide a consistent, secure base for a group or form of students
• Support learners with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs to make positive progress
• Build therapeutic and trusting relationships tailored to individual needs
• Help develop and implement Individual Education Plans, Behaviour Plans, Risk Assessments and care programmes
• Promote inclusion, self-esteem, resilience and independence
• Support the delivery of specialist and therapeutic interventions
• Track student progress and share insights with teachers, the SENCo and other professionals
• Work collaboratively with families, including home visits where appropriate
• Support learning in the classroom, small groups and one-to-one
• Encourage positive behaviour and help students take responsibility for their actions
• Contribute to a calm, purposeful and nurturing learning environment
• Take part in training, meetings and professional development activities
• Support students during breaktimes, trips and off-site activities when required

You will also be encouraged to develop your expertise through training and by working alongside psychologists, therapists and other specialists.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH and additional needs
• Calm, adaptable and able to respond positively to challenge
• A strong team player who can also use initiative with confidence and professionalism
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people
• Willing to continue learning and developing their practice

Essential requirements include:

• GCSE Grade C or Level 2 equivalent in English and Maths (or Functional Skills)
• Excellent communication and behaviour management skills
• An understanding of barriers to learning and how to overcome them
• The ability to build positive relationships with students, families and colleagues

Desirable:

• Experience working with SEMH, challenging behaviour, ADHD and/or ASD
• Knowledge of therapeutic or alternative interventions
• A relevant qualification (e.g. Foundation Degree or Level 5)
• Confident use of IT to support learning
• A full driving licence and access to your own transport

Safeguarding and pre-employment checks

This post involves a high level of contact with children and vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced DBS check will be required as part of Larwood Academy Trust’s pre-employment checks.

As part of Brighter Futures Educational Trust’s safer recruitment process, references from current and previous employers will be sought for shortlisted candidates, and any discrepancies will be discussed at interview.

Why join us?

By joining Brighter Futures Educational Trust, you will become part of a supportive and dedicated team who are deeply committed to improving outcomes for young people. You’ll be supported in your professional development and given the opportunity to make a real, lasting impact.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Larwood School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of its students and all staff are carefully vetted. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS checks.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Larwood School

• School type: Academy, ages 5 to 11
• School size: 117 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 5 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Larwood School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/larwood-school-stevenage

Larwood School is a dynamic and successful primary special school with an innovative and constantly evolving curriculum for boys and girls with social, emotional and mental health related difficulties.

We wish to appoint a passionate, dedicated and determined classroom teacher for January 2024 or sooner if possible.

All of our pupils have Education Health Care Plans, but thrive in our nurturing and well structured environment. You will need to be resilient and ready for the challenges that we face with our pupils. However, you can be assured that your work will transform lives!

We were judged as ‘good’ by Ofsted in all areas during inspection in November 2022 and 'outstanding' for Behaviour. We became an academy school in Nov 2016 and are the lead school in a 2-school multi academy trust. We also provide outreach support for primary schools within Stevenage, focusing on behaviour management support strategies.

Class sizes are small, usually no more than 10 pupils. We are superbly resourced. All teaching groups have a teacher and teaching assistant to work with pupils.

Our constant challenge is to review and alter our practice to ensure the very best outcomes for our pupils. We have a wide range of initiatives in place from bespoke intervention support, counselling, animal assisted therapy to an interactive thematic curriculum which engages and inspires our pupils.

All staff are trained in the use of Hertfordshire Steps as a behaviour management system.

We have a range of well-being initiatives and numerous opportunities for growth and development. This includes:

Financial benefits such as Healthcare Cash Plan and access to a range of discounts with various stores and activities via Medicash
Direct access to a doctor at a time/place that suits you using Medicash
Free staff fitness session (on site) each week
Dedicated staff attendance reward scheme
Access to counselling and physiotherapy should you need it (subject to conditions)
Dedicated training program
Varied CPD opportunities
Support for Masters degree study.

School location

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