Personal Learning Support Assistant in Pennington

We are seeking to appoint a dedicated and experienced Personal Learning Support Assistant (PLSA) to work on a 1:1 basis with a pupil in Year 4 from September 2026. Hours are 8:15am - 4.00pm Monday-Friday. This role is initially offered for one term, with a strong likelihood of extension. This is an excellent opportunity for a kind, patient and adaptable individual who is passionate about supporting children with additional needs to thrive both academically and socially within a nurturing school environment.

The successful candidate will support a Year 4 pupil to access all areas of the curriculum and school life, promoting confidence, independence and a positive sense of self as a learner. The pupil is bright, motivated and sociable, with a physical disability following significant medical treatment. While cognitive understanding is broadly age-appropriate, their processing speed, working memory, fatigue levels and physical needs impact access to learning and participation at pace.

The pupil benefits from:

• A calm, structured environment.
• Additional time to process information and respond.
• Learning broken into small, manageable steps.
• Visual support and repetition.
• Regular rest breaks and opportunities to regulate.

What You Will Do

Full details can be found in the attached job description, however, duties will include:

• Provide consistent, attentive 1:1 support throughout the school day.
• Adapt learning tasks alongside the class teacher and Learning Support team.
• Break down instructions and check understanding.
• Support the use of alternative methods of recording, including technology, scribing and visuals.
• Supporting access to a modified PE curriculum, under the guidance of the PE department and SENCo.
• Encourage independence while providing appropriate scaffolding.
• Allow additional time for communication and support others to understand responses.
• Manage fatigue through pacing, flexibility and planned breaks.
• Support attention and engagement through clear routines and prompts.
• Follow and embed recommendations from therapy programmes, including Speech and Language Therapy and Physiotherapy, within the school day, either on a 1:1 basis or within a small group.
• Promote positive peer interaction and inclusion.
• Provide 1:1 adult supervision for safe movement around the school site.
• Support transitions, positioning and safe access to learning spaces.
• Support aspects of personal care with sensitivity, dignity and a focus on developing independence.
• Provide extra processing time and repetition.
• Deliver short, structured teaching sequences.
• Support opportunities for overlearning and reinforcement.
• Support the use of assistive technology to promote independence.
• Provide adult support to verbalise understanding.
• Encourage motivation and resilience.
• Support the management of frustration linked to communication or fatigue.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is warm, patient and nurturing, with the ability to provide responsive support that promotes both learning and independence. The successful candidate will be able to adapt their approach to meet changing needs throughout the day and work effectively as part of a team.

Essential

• Warm, patient and nurturing.
• Calm, observant and highly responsive.
• Able to balance support with promoting independence.
• Confident supporting both learning and physical needs.
• Skilled at adapting communication and expectations.
• Positive, proactive and solution-focused.
• A strong team player.
• Experience of working with children with additional or physical needs.

Desirable

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification.

Why Walhampton?

A supportive and inspiring team in a beautiful setting on the edge of the New Forest. Professional development opportunities to grow in your career. Competitive salary and staff benefits, including:

• Free lunch during term time.
• Free tea and coffee.
• Healthcare cashback plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• 24‑hour GP access.
• Free onsite parking.

Apply Today!

Join our team and help support a pupil to thrive both academically and socially within a nurturing school environment. The closing date for applications is 09:00 on Friday 26th June, with interviews scheduled to take place week commencing 29th June. It is our preference for candidates to apply by completing our online application form, which can be accessed by clicking 'Apply Now.' If you prefer to apply offline, an alternative application form is available by emailing hr@walhampton.com. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. No agencies please.

Walhampton is an independent preparatory day and boarding school for 370 boys and girls aged 2–13. The school lies in beautiful ancient woodland on the southern edge of the New Forest near Lymington in Hampshire. Further information about Walhampton is available at www.walhampton.com. Walhampton School is an equal opportunities employer and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, satisfactory references and evidence of right to work in the UK. It is a criminal offence for an individual to apply for a role if they are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff, ensuring that our staff body reflects the diversity of modern Britain. Acknowledging a lack of ethnic diversity within our staff community, we particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates. Appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.