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Learning Support Assistants
Mary Astell Academy, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE5 2LW17 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
23 February 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
5 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: 35 hours per week, term time + 5 additional training days
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- N4 SCP7 - SCP9 FTE: £26,403 - £27,254 £21,447.00 - £22,138.00 actual salary pro-rata (hourly rate £13.69 - £14.13)
What skills and experience we're looking for
- GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) in Maths and English
- Relevant transferable experience. For example: working with children in education, health or care settings
- Aclear vision of how the role can be used to ensure pupil progression and effective delivery of their learning
- The ability to work constructively as part of a Team
What the school offers its staff
A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
- Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates
- Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
- Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
- Bike 2 Work scheme
Further information about the job
Please note that applicants to the recent advert which closed on 09.01.2026 need not reapply.
Passionate about helping every child succeed?You might be an ideal candidate for the Learning Support Assistant positions at Mary Astell Academy.
This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual with:
- GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) in Maths and English
- Relevant transferable experience. For example: working with children in education, health or care settings
- Aclear vision of how the role can be used to ensure pupil progression and effective delivery of their learning
- The ability to work constructively as part of a Team
As a valued member of our team, you will:
- Assist in providing classroom support to pupils with additional needs
- Assist the teacher and other professionals with the development of specialist support and communication skills
- Take a responsive approach to children's needs to help address barriers to learning and well-being
- Demonstrate a calm, confident and professional manner
Does this sound like the perfect role for you?
Mary Astell Academy is an alternative provision academy established in September 2018. Based in the West End of Newcastle, the academy works with young people aged 11 to 16 who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education. We provide access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to pupils’ potential and educational needs and encourage their reintegration back into a mainstream school setting wherever possible.
Our young people are also able to access a wide range of therapeutic interventions to support them in recognising and understanding triggers for their behaviours and explore strategies that support them in dealing with these. We recognise that ACEs and traumatic experiences have often impacted upon the lives of our young people and that for many of them not only have they survived but have shown great strength in doing so. At Mary Astell we seek to restore them and help individuals return to a path towards happy and fulfilling adult lives.
To learn more aboutMary Astell AcademyandProsper Learning Trust, please visit the websites.
Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds.Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness.We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.
The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:
- Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)
- Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)
- Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)
- Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)
- Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)
Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).
The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Mary Astell Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.
Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust
The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:
- A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
- Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
- Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates
- Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
- Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
- Bike 2 Work scheme
When completing your supporting statement, please consider the following prompts to help us to understand your skills and experience.
- Supporting Learning:Have you helped someone achieve a goal or overcome barriers?
- Engagement:How have you kept individuals or groups focused?
- Behaviour & Emotional Support: How do you stay calm and build positive relationships?
- Communication:How would you adapt your approach for different people and to respond to children's needs?
- Technology & Resources:Have you used ICT/ how would you prepare resources that meet pupils’ needs and interests?
- Safeguarding:What does it mean to you, and how would you contribute to a healthy, safe, and secure environment for pupils?
- Teamwork:How have you worked constructively with others?
You do not need previous experience in education to apply—what matters most is finding the right person with the right values and transferable skills. If you’ve worked in roles requiring patience, communication, and support you can draw on those experiences. Examples can come from your current or previous profession and will help us see how your skills could make a difference to pupils with additional needs at Mary Astell Academy.
If you would like to discuss the post before applying contact, Francesca Brown, Deputy Headteacher at Mary Astell Academy on 0191 267 4447 to arrange an informal chat.
For more information on why we think you should work for us see ourTrust website, where you will also findvideosof what our current staff think.
The successful candidate will be welcome into the Trust, so if this sounds like the job foryoupleasedon'thesitate to apply.
Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.
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
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)About Mary Astell Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 5 to 16
- School size
- 32 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Mary Astell Academy website
- Email address
- admin@maryastellacademy.co.uk
We are an alternative provision academy within Prosper Learning Trust which provides education to pupils from ages 11 to 16. We are proud to be part of the Prosper family with its core vision and values which are reflected in our daily work. Our purpose is to give young people a fresh start and allow them to continue their educational journey. The children we serve are from the City of Newcastle, they are referred to us by their school and join us for a short time, or by the local authority, having been permanently excluded from a mainstream school. We also have staff who travel to local schools and work with children there.
Our students are supported to access a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to their potential and educational needs which encourages their reintegration back into a mainstream school setting wherever possible. Individual curriculum offers and experiences are available which allow pupils to develop their skills, make progress, move towards their potential and build foundations upon which they can develop successful futures. Pupils here tell us they’ve found a dedicated and caring team of staff who create a safe and secure environment in which to continue their learning and their development as young people.
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