Learning Support Mentor (with ELSA responsibilities)

St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 0PF

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  13 October 2025 at 10am

• Date listed

  30 September 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £13,594.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 6, Scale Point 6: £13,594 per annum

Learning Support Mentor (with ELSA responsibilities) job summary

Salary: Grade 6, Scale Point 6: £13,594 per annum

Contract: 22.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus inset days), Fixed Term until July 2026

We are seeking an outstanding and empathetic individual, full of energy and enthusiasm, to join our school as a Learning Support Mentor with some Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) responsibilities. In this role, you will supervise and support pupils in their learning, while also providing tailored support for individual children with identified social, emotional, or behavioural needs.

The role offers flexibility around start and finish times, as well as the number of working days, which can be discussed at interview. While previous pastoral or ELSA experience would be an advantage, it is not essential and training will be given. What matters most is your commitment, confidence, and compassion. Join us to make a real difference in the lives of our students, helping them build resilience, self-confidence, and positive wellbeing.

The role will include:

• Working one to one or with small groups to support learning across curriculum
• Support pupils to achieve their potential
• Assist teachers in delivering tailored interventions and learning strategies
• Encourage confidence, independence and a love of learning
• Build positive relationships with pupils, staff and families
• Provide support for individual students inside and outside of the classroom to participate in activities
• Support students with emotional or behavioural problems and help develop their social skills

The successful candidate will:

• Have experience working with children in a school or support setting
• Be empatheic, patient and committed to inclusion
• Work collaboratively as part of a team
• Be flexible, proactive and able to use their initiative
• ELSA/Pastoral experience would be an advantage

Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the School, please do not hesitate to contact Danika Gibbon, School Administrator on office@standrewsfontmell.co.uk or 01747 811500 who will be happy to arrange this.

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

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

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role will include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will meet the person specification and is subject to an enhanced DBS and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

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 St Andrew's Church of England Primary School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary
• School size: 81 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Andrew's Church of England Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-andrew-s-church-of-england-primary-school-shaftesbury

St Andrew’s is a small church school situated in the heart of the delightful Dorset village of Fontmell Magna. Families come to us from Shaftsbury and many of the surrounding villages. In June 2019 the school become an academy and joined the Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust (SAST). We enjoy good relationships with other trust schools and benefit from working in collaboration with them.

Being a small primary school allows us to fully embrace our community, coming here is like being part of an extended family. Our connection with village life, the church and our families is strong and we flourish because of this joined up approach. Our pupils BELIEVE that all things are possible and because of our belief in ourselves, each other and God we THRIVE, LEARN and SHINE together.

School location

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