Learning Support Assistant

St John’s College School is seeking a part-time Learning Support Assistant on a fixed term contract from May 2025 – 27th March 2026. The role will involve working 1:1 with a child in Year 1 then Year 2 every day.

The post of the 1:1 Learning Support Assistant primarily involves working with a child who has Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties. However, as part of the Learning Support Department you may be asked to work with other children with specific needs as well.

Specific duties for the 1:1 support assistant role:

• To reinforce the teaching objectives on a 1 to 1 basis, under the direction of the teacher, in order to provide support and differentiation within the classroom.

• To assist Teachers in the provision of a full range of stimulating activities adapted to the needs of the individual child.

• To work with Teachers, adapting work for the individual child

• To carry out objectives from a child’s Assess Plan Do Review (APDR).

• To assist in promoting the physical, intellectual, emotional and social development of children in their care.

• To observe and support the child socially during play, reporting significant events to the Teacher.

• To communicate and collaborate effectively with Teachers and parents.

• To attend Staff Meetings and Year Group meetings where appropriate, to share information about the child’s progress and the planning of activities.

• To attend relevant courses and in-service for career enhancement.

• To undertake any educational duties or activities, over and above those described, deemed appropriate by the Head of the Learning Support department.

• To prepare and adapt materials for learning.

• To help to prepare resources before the start of the term.

• If the child is absent, to cover Staff duties in the event of absences, as directed by Senior Management.

• To help gather information and contribute to reviews for the child

• To observe the child to gain an understanding of triggers and effective strategies

• Under the guidance of the Sensory Needs Practitioner, to support the child by doing a range of sensory activities throughout each day

• To support the child with emotional regulation, through co-regulation, removing him from the classroom for the space to calm as needed or intervening to help prevent a melt-down

• To teach the child ‘Zones of Regulation’ strategies and help him to use these when needed (training will be given in Zones of Regulation)

Person Specification

Our key concern is to appoint candidates who share our commitment to caring for each child. While our Learning Support Assistants are, in general, highly qualified, evidence of a genuine interest in children is of equal significance. The successful candidate is likely to offer:

• a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

• enthusiasm for the outdoors and a willingness to take part in learning in all weathers.

• evidence of an interest in further professional development.

• an interest and a willingness to undertake training in the use of ICT (funded by the school)

• Experience of working with children with social or emotional needs

• Previous training in the effects of trauma and ways to support children who have been through trauma

Hours

The post will be term time only for one year. Working hours for this role will be 12 hours per week. The ideal hours worked would be as below, though there is some flexibility around this:

Mondays 8:30 – 9:50am

Tuesdays 8:30 – 10am

Wednesdays and Thursdays 8:30 – 10:30am

Fridays 8:30am – 2:40pm (with an hour unpaid lunch break)

A job share will be considered.

There are, occasionally, times when an assistant may be asked to work outside the above stated hours without further remuneration, e.g. being available for staff meetings or training after school or for the (very) occasional Saturday morning or weekday afternoon for e.g. open days, sports days or visits of prospective pupils.

Holiday

The employee shall be entitled to take as holiday all school holidays, except as detailed above.

Salary

The salary for this fixed term role is £8,237.65 which will be pro-rated for the fixed term period.

Salaries will be paid monthly by direct credit to a nominated bank account and will be paid on the 28th day of each month (or the nearest prior working day), with the exception of December, when payment is made on 20th December (or the nearest prior working day).

Applications

A handwritten letter of application should be sent with a fully completed application form (see ‘Application and Recruitment Process Explanatory Notes’) to the HR Officer, St John's College School, 75 Grange Road, Cambridge CB3 9AA (recruitment@sjcs.co.uk).

A long list of candidates will be drawn up, from which a short-list will be invited to attend the school for the final interview procedure, which will involve tours of the school, meetings with various members of staff and the final interview itself, which will include questions in relation to Safeguarding.

All reasonable interview expenses will be reimbursed by the School.

Any offer of employment is conditional upon the satisfactory completion of all of the regulatory pre-employment checks, which must be concluded prior to your first day at St John’s.

St John’s College School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

All appointments are subject to a criminal background check and proof of qualifications in accordance with the requirements of the Children Act.