Learning Support Assistant (VI Focus)
Katherine Warington School, Harpenden, AL5 5FH14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
25 May 2026 at 8am
Date listed
11 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full-time equivalent salary
- £26,312.00 - £27,983.00 Annually (FTE) Actual Salary for 32 hours a week £19,464 to £20,700
Learning Support Assistant (VI Focus) job summary
About this Role
We are seeking a Learning Support Assistant to assist specific students. The successful candidate will be supported by the SEN team and Specialists in the Vision Impairment Team. The role is working Monday to Friday 8.20am-3.30pm, Term time plus inset days. The position is initially for one year, linked to funding.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The core work of the Learning Support Assistant (LSA) will be driven by the SEN team and supported by Specialists in the Vision Impairment (VI) Team, Children’s Services, Hertfordshire County Council. When not assisting specific students, the role of LSA for the department will be assumed.
MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To work with Subject Teachers and Specialists within the VI Team to establish and promote an inclusive learning environment.
To provide direct support to facilitation access to learning for pupils with VI in lessons, promoting social inclusion and independence.
To implement advice and strategies from Specialists within the VI Team to promote development and independence in lessons, around the school site, on school trips, in line with health and safety guidance.
To produce curriculum resources in a format accessible to pupils with VI and appropriate to their individual needs e.g. Braille, audio, concrete materials/3D models.
To shadow Specialists in the Vision Impairment Team, including Vision Impairment Access Specialists, and receive training in modification of curriculum materials and learning experiences.
To support pupils with VI in their use of specialist equipment in class, developing confidence and independence.
To know or be committed to learn uncontracted and contracted Braille.
To contribute to the monitoring and recording of pupil progress.
To attend and participate in relevant specialist Vision Impairment training.
Whilst we value the skills listed above, we are willing to invest in developing these skills within the right individual who has a passion for supporting learners with VI impairment.
Through the application of specific knowledge and skills:
To support teaching staff in raising standards of attainment for all students (e.g., SEND, EAL, all underachieving groups)
To encourage students to become independent learners through the provision of support for their welfare, facilitating the inclusion of students in all aspects of school life.
To work independently and collaboratively with teaching staff and to assist with the planning cycle and preparation of resources.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
The Learning Support Assistant’s (LSA) main role is to:
provide 1:1 support for students with special educational, social, emotional and behaviour difficulties
ensure that students can integrate as fully as possible in activities undertaken by other students in the class to enable them to make progress
run specific programmes and activities to support students’ individual learning and social needs
be responsible for implementing targets on students’ Individual Education Plans (IEP) in liaison with class teachers and the SENDCo.
Person Specification
The post-holder should have:
Experience of working with children with special educational needs in a school setting
GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications in Maths and English (grade 4 or above)
Knowledge and understanding of the different social, cultural and physical needs of students
An interest in how children learn and behave
Appropriate role modelling of behaviour both in the classroom and around school
Empathy towards students who find learning and managing their behaviour difficult
Training in aspects of SEND, i.e., ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism
Please see the Job Description for further information.
In return, you will have access to our staff benefits package including:
- An annual Flex Day to be taken on a day of your choice (with an additional day granted for every 4 years of service)
- Commitment to flexible working
- Free parking on site
- Free use of the school gym
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to our in-house team of Mental Health First Aiders
- Buddy system for new staff
- Access to mentoring and CPD opportunities
- Regular staff socials
- Discounts with local businesses
- An opportunity to work with friendly and welcoming colleagues in a modern, aesthetically pleasing and forward-thinking environment.
At KWS, we understand the value of having a workforce that reflects and represents our multi-ethnic student body from an equality, diversity and inclusivity perspective. We therefore welcome and embrace applications from all backgrounds.
We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and visitors to share this commitment. This post will require a Full Enhanced, with List Checks, Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).
As part of our selection and appointment process, and in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, we are required to conduct online searches on all candidates in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online. By submitting and signing your application, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the selection and appointment process.
Applications will be shortlisted throughout the process, and we may interview and close the advert early if we are in a position to recruit a suitable candidate. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply early.
For more details about the school please visit our website and prospectus, links below
https://kwschool.co.uk/
https://kwschool.co.uk/prospectus/
Further information about the job
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 will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Katherine Warington School
- School type
- Free Schools, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1017 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Katherine Warington School website
Katherine Warington School is a new comprehensive, co‐educational and non‐denominational academic secondary school (opened September 19) with 750 students currently (180 in each of years 7, 8, 9 and 10 – these year groups are already oversubscribed). The school will add a
further 180 students in each subsequent year and then open a 250 strong Sixth Form. By 2025 we will have grown to our capacity of 1,150 students. The school was established through the partnership of the Harpenden Secondary Schools Trust, which includes the three outstanding
schools in Harpenden: Roundwood Park, St George’s and Sir John Lawes and additional partners: the University of Hertfordshire and Rothamsted Research Centre (a world leading non‐profit agricultural science research centre).
Further details about the school, including our prospectus and virtual tour, can be found on our website: www.kwschool.co.uk
School location
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