Learning Mentor Approach to Learning
Purple Oaks Academy, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN2 7RR9 days remaining to apply
Start date details
1 September 2025, or sooner
Closing date
22 June 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
11 June 2025
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Special Education Needs (SEN)
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £22,767.00 - £27,194.00 Annually (Actual) 37 hours per week, 40 weeks per year
Learning Mentor Approach to Learning job summary
We are looking for a Learning Mentor Approach to Learning to join our team here at Purple Oaks Academy!
The successful post holder will be required to work as part of the academy Pastoral Team and Safeguarding Team, supporting students to overcome barriers to learning. The role involves supporting students to improve their emotional regulation and behaviour so that they are better able to engage with learning activities. The role includes supporting the transition of new students into the academy, particularly those who may have spent a period of time out of education. The post holder may also be required to cover classes on occasion in the absence of the Class Teacher. The person who takes on this position will need to be confident and competent in delivering training to colleagues, supporting and challenging other professionals in the best interest of the students and capable of forging solid relationships with families. Furthermore, someone with a good degree of physical fitness who can take a lead on professional development for staff in positive handling, once they have successfully completed training themselves is a key aspect of this role.
To be successful you must be able to demonstrate:
- excellent communication skills and the ability support students who are struggling to manage their own emotions by remaining calm and using a wide range of de-escalation strategies
- the ability to relate to and engage with a wide range of students
- great organisational skills
- high levels of personal resilience
- high standards in terms of achievement and behaviour.
About us:
We are a popular and over-subscribed special setting for students (3-18 years) with a diagnosis of autism and/or Severe Learning Difficulties. We recently attained SEN School of the Year (Northampton Education Awards) and pride ourselves on being a setting that seeks first to understand behaviour that challenges.
You will join a team of committed staff who are dedicated to ensuring students are prepared for the years beyond education and are supported to pursue their dreams.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual who wishes to work in a unique environment. The role will expose you to challenging situations involving students with significant special educational needs; therefore experience of working with children with autism would be advantageous. The Trust also value continuing professional development, giving you access to a variety of learning opportunities including training courses via the Learning Alliance and opportunities for sharing best practice.
Visits to the academy are warmly welcomed and encouraged, please contact Tina Matty on 01604 434471 or email tmatty@purpleoaksacademy.org to arrange a visit
In return:
You can be assured that you will be joining a successful Multi Academy Trust that has a great track record in helping children to succeed no matter what their background. The Trust is dedicated to valuing and developing the workforce whether that be through ensuring a fair workload or offering access to bespoke CPD from the Learning Alliance to enhance professional growth.
We believe in looking after the people who make a huge difference to our children, their families and the communities we serve. That’s why we give everyone who joins a Perkbox account – with 24/7 access to perks and discounts, plus curated wellbeing tools to look after your physical and mental health. It’s part of our commitment to look after you.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
- Hundreds of global and local perks, available online 24/7
- Shopping discounts from the biggest brands, all year round
- Save money on everything from the supermarket shop to summer holidays
- A free Employee Assistance Programme from Vivup
If this post attracts sufficient interest before the closing date, we may decide to close and interview this vacancy at an earlier date, so an early application is advised.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All posts will be subject to receipt of satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure, medical and reference checks. All pre-employment checks are in line with "Keeping Children Safe in Education”.
The Trust welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation.
All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.
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 school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs are not accepted.
About Purple Oaks Academy
- School type
- Free School, ages 3 to 18
- School size
- 119 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Purple Oaks Academy website
About us:
Our purpose-built building opened in January 2018 and will provide 100 places for students (3-18) with a diagnosis of autism and/or Severe Learning Difficulties. The Academy currently has 94 students on roll from Reception to Year 10 and will grow to 100 in September 2021 with Reception to Year 11.
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer tours of the academy at the moment but we do have a virtual tour on our website https://www.purpleoaksacademy.org/ . Opportunities to have a discussion about the role with a member of the leadership team are also available and you can contact Tina Matty, tmatty@purpleoaksacademy.org to arrange this.
We can offer you:
An exciting opportunity to work in a unique and growing academy with students with a range of complex needs,
A supportive and welcoming team with a wide range of experience,
A new building designed to meet the needs of our students with large outdoor spaces,
Career development opportunities as the Academy continues to grow and develop, an ongoing programme of continuous professional development activities through the local Teaching School Alliance and Greenwood Academies Trust Learning Alliance, including a Trust NQT programme,
Dedicated planning, preparation and assessment time.
In Return:
You can be assured that you will be joining a successful Multi Academy Trust that has a great track record in helping children to succeed no matter what their background. The Trust is dedicated to valuing and developing the workforce whether that be through ensuring a fair workload or offering access to bespoke CPD from the Learning Alliance to enhance professional growth.
We believe in looking after the people who make a huge difference to our children, their families and the communities we serve. That’s why we give everyone who joins a Perkbox account – with 24/7 access to perks and discounts, plus curated wellbeing tools to look after your physical and mental health. It’s part of our commitment to look after you.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
Hundreds of global and local perks, available online 24/7
Shopping discounts from the biggest brands, all year round
Save money on everything from the supermarket shop to summer holidays
A free Employee Assistance Programme from Health Assured
If this post attracts sufficient interest before the closing date, we may decide to close and interview this vacancy at an earlier date, so an early application is advised.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff to share this commitment and undergo appropriate checks, therefore, all posts within the Trust are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. It is an offence to apply for a role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
All adults employed by the Trust have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.
The Trust welcomes applications from all, irrespective of gender, marital status, disability, race, age or sexual orientation.
All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.
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