Learning Support Assistant

The LSA will work with individuals or small groups of children under the direction of teaching staff and SENCO to provide support to pupils with moderate learning, behavioural, communication, social or physical difficulties.

About OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. The majority of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now on an exciting journey to become fully co-educational by September 2025. Girls joined us in September 2021 in Year 7, whilst the Sixth Form has been mixed since 2004.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home.

We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills and competencies:

• Experience of being a LSA within a Secondary School setting – experience in supporting students at KS4 (Year 10 and Y11) with academic learning and executive functioning (planning, organisation, revision) is desirable
• Ability to support students in their learning
• Ability to motivate and encourage students
• Good reading, writing and numeracy skills
• Ability to deal with challenging behaviour
• Ability to act on own initiative
• Good communication skills
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Calm, patient and an appreciation of a sense of humour
• Able to play an active role as part of a busy team but can also work alone
• Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people

Job Specification

General duties

1. Contribute to the management of pupil behaviour
2. Establish and maintain relationships with individual pupils and groups
3. Support pupils during learning activities, with a particular focus on KS4 student
4. Evaluate and develop your contribution to raising achievement
5. To support the smooth running of the SEN department space 

Provide support for the teacher

1. Assist in preparing and maintaining the learning environment
2. Contribute to maintaining pupil records
3. Observe and report on pupil performance
4. Contribute to the planning and evaluation of learning activities

Provide support for the pupil

1. Promote pupil’s social and emotional development
2. Support the maintenance of pupil safety and security
3. Contribute to the health and well-being of pupils, e.g. recognising emergency situations which require a qualified First Aider
4. Support pupils’ individual learning needs and development
5. To offer enhanced learning support to students with a physical disability

Provide support for the curriculum

1. Support the use of ICT
2. Help pupils to develop their literacy skills
3. Help pupils to develop their numeracy skills

Providing support for the School 

1. Support the development and effectiveness of work teams
2. Develop and maintain working relationships with other professionals
3. Participate in the promotion of your department and the School, including Open Days and Open Evenings, Induction Days and the like, and the attendance at any marketing events as requested by SLT
4. To complete all online training required by the school
5. To undertake such other duties as the Headmaster or SENCO may from time to time reason reasonably require

Hours & Remuneration of Work

The hours of work are 33.75 hours per week, term time (37 weeks).

The work pattern is Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.45pm with a 30 minute break 

The rate of pay is £13.28 to £13.48 per hour plus statutory holiday pay depending on qualifications and experience.

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunity

Old Swinford Services Ltd welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to work with Children

Old Swinford Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received.