Learning Support Workers (Teaching Assistants)

Have you ever wished you could go home from work knowing you genuinely helped someone? Are you looking for a job where every day feels worthwhile and full of little wins? As a Learning Support Worker, you will help young people learn, communicate and achieve things they never thought possible. You will play a key role in creating a calm and supportive learning environment where students feel included, safe and able to grow in confidence every day.

Working alongside teachers and therapists, you will be part of a close-knit team of Learning Support Workers focused on the wellbeing and progress of our students. Together, you’ll encourage positive interaction, help students navigate their challenges and celebrate their achievements. This role is available on both a full-time and part-time basis (part-time is 3 or 4 full days a week) working term-time between 08:15–16:15, giving you predictable daytime hours and school holiday breaks. If you’d like to join us and see first-hand the difference you can make, apply now and take the first step towards a truly rewarding career.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supervise and support students 1:1 or in small groups.
• Create a calm and encouraging learning space.
• Support students’ behavioural and social needs in line with school guidance.
• Help students work towards individual targets.
• Assist students in activities both on and off-site.
• Provide clear feedback on progress.
• Support teachers and therapists in planning and delivering learning activities.
• Record progress and help maintain learning environments.
• Promote positive behaviour and respond to incidents appropriately.
• Join training sessions and meetings.
• Follow safeguarding, health and safety and confidentiality procedures.
• Administer medication (training will be provided).

The School:

At Alderwasley Hall School, we are one of the largest schools in the country of our kind and the work that my team do is frequently used as a benchmark for the development of other provisions within our field. The school is set in rural Derbyshire with close transport links to the diverse cities of Derby and Sheffield and we specialise in working with young people with Autism and Developmental Language Disorder. We have over 30 years of nationally recognised skill and experience within the educational field of Autism and Communication and our team of Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists is one of the largest in any school across the country. This, alongside our Mental Health Team provides us with an unrivalled level of expertise. Our underpinning ethos of “Unconditional Positive Regard and fulfilment in life” guides all that we do and our outstanding outcomes, we believe, speak for themselves.

The SENAD Group is dedicated to equality of opportunity in all areas of work, education and care. We are also committed to safeguarding those in our care – all successful candidates will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS check and will be subject to thorough background checks that include online searches.

The Benefits:

• Paid training and induction – so you walk in confident and ready to make a difference.
• Ongoing development – build skills and grow your career over time.
• A supportive team culture – you’ll never feel like you’re doing this alone.
• Free DBS – making joining us as smooth as possible.
• Employee Assistance Programme – practical support when life gets challenging.
• Free onsite parking – easy and stress-free travel.

The Person:

To succeed as a Learning Support Worker, you will need:

• Motivation and a caring approach.
• Flexibility and resilience.
• Good literacy and numeracy.
• Understanding of SEND needs.
• Full driving license and own transport due to the rural nature of the school.

Desirable (but not essential):

• Previous classroom experience.
• GCSE English.