Learning Assistant ASN - Penicuik High School - MID07033

Job Vacancy

Penicuik High School is an ambitious school that has undergone a rapid period of change. The school has a vision to be a higher performing school where inclusion, equity and wellbeing are the cornerstone of its delivery of education and this is being realised in our expanded Support and Inclusion Department.

This post is within the Support and Inclusion department where the post-holder will provide support to young people with a wide range of additional support needs. The post-holder will work across the department: in mainstream classroom settings, providing one-to-one support where required, in the Support and Inclusion classrooms and in the Complex Needs Base. The post-holder will also provide support to and assist with supervision of students out-with a classroom setting. If you would enjoy the challenge of working with young people to help them learn and gain essential life skills we would welcome your application.

The post-holder should be able to demonstrate:

• An ability to work effectively as part of a fast moving team, working with both students and other members of staff.
• Excellent communication skills.
• The ability to build positive relationships with both students and staff.

KNOWLEDGE

Evidence of basic literacy and numeracy at Standard Grade General level or SVQ2 in Early Years Care and Education, or National Certificate unit in Childcare & Education, or equivalent competency, to enable the jobholder to communicate effectively with staff and pupils, and provide sensitive support.

The jobholder must be familiar with child development and able to respond to the needs of individual pupils. Jobholders should have previous experience of working in this field of work.

To be fully competent in the role jobholders will be required to undertake addition training courses eg first aid, calm techniques etc.

If the post is within a Nursery Environment then the Jobholder must be registered with or obtain membership with the SSSC within 3 months of appointment. In order to register you must currently hold the relevant qualifications or be willing to work towards attaining these qualifications within the first year of registration. For further information about the qualifications recognised by SSSC for registration in a Support Worker role, please see www.sssc.uk.com

CLOSING DATE – Sunday 28th September 2025

INTERVIEW DATE – Week Beginning 6th October 2025

Job Advert

Position Title: Learning Assistant ASN

Directorate: Children, Young People and Partnerships

Location: Penicuik High School

Contract Status: Fixed Term until 29/06/2027

Hours of Work: 27.5 hour per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Thursday 0830 – 1525, Friday 0830 – 1215

Weeks per year: 39

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 27.5 hours over 39 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £18,573.80 per annum.

Requirements

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.

Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children. You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you. For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit www.disclosurescotland.gov.uk

Please note that Disclosure Scotland has changed the way PVG certificates are issued. You will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view. Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate. If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.

Additional Information

If you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please call 0131 271 3063 to speak to a member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.