Job Title: Learning Support Assistant
Job Location: Oakwood Specialist College, Torpoint PL11 2BJ
Salary: Between £22,204.50 and £23,052.00 per annum, based on working 37.5 hours per week, term time only (39.6 weeks per year)
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract - Maternity Cover
Every person deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and feel supported in their education. Some learners simply need a little extra guidance to thrive, and that’s where you make a real difference.
As a Learning Support Assistant, you’ll be working alongside young adults aged 16 and over who are living with Autism, ADHD, and other learning differences that can affect their educational journey. Your role is about meeting each learner where they are, understanding their unique strengths, and helping them build confidence in their abilities.
Our curriculum isn’t structured like a mainstream college. While qualifications matter, our focus is broader and more holistic. You’ll support learners in developing essential life skills, taking part in personalised learning programmes, gaining work experience, and strengthening their Maths and English. You’ll also help them engage in activities that enrich their wellbeing and overall experience.
With small class sizes of just 5 to 7 learners, you’ll have the time and space to build meaningful relationships and truly understand the individuals you support. It’s a setting where patience, empathy, and creativity go a long way and where the impact you make is felt every day.
A day in the life of a Learning Support Assistant will involve:
- Assisting teaching staff in all classroom activities including planning, teaching and assessing learning.
- Working closely with students keeping them engaged, motivated and inspired to reach their full potential.
- Working either 1:1 with learners, or in small group settings to help them achieve their learning goals.
To be a successful Learning Support Assistant, you’ll need:
- Patience, compassion, and resilience – The learners you’ll support have Autism and ADHD, which may have an impact on their behaviour and communication needs.
- Great communication skills – Both verbal and written communication is important in this role as you’ll be speaking to a lot of different people at different times and need to be able to update the learners’ plans.
- A driving licence – Our learners love to go on fieldtrips. We need you to be able to drive them to where they need to go. We have the cars; you just need the licence.
- A genuine interest in a career focused on the education of people with Autism and other neurodiversity and disabilities.
In return for your time, you’ll get:
- Holidays – You’ll only work term time, but you’ll get paid 5.6 weeks annual leave as well!
- Pension scheme– Our pension scheme is based on you paying in 5%, and us adding 3%.
- Learning & Development Opportunities – We provide comprehensive learning opportunities for team members to develop themselves.
- Discounts – You’ll have access to brilliant discounts through the Blue Light Card and our own employee benefits platform.
- Wellbeing Support – Your wellbeing is always our priority. You’ll have access to mental health and wellbeing support. On top of this, our therapies team offers a six weekly confidential check in clinic, and group reflective practice sessions.
- Cycle2Work -The cycle to work scheme enables you to buy a bicycle at a discounted rate.
- DBS – As this role required you to have an enhanced DBS carried out, we will cover this cost.
- After 12 months service - You’ll be eligible for our Medicash scheme which covers a wide range of medical, health and wellbeing expenses (Including immediate access to a GP!). You’ll get life assurance paid at 2 x your annual salary, and even more high street discounts.
As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS, online and social media checks, and reference validation. Due to the nature of our work, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), so we may ask you to disclose any spent or unspent criminal convictions during recruitment. This disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, and we encourage transparency at the application stage.
At Phoenix Learning and Care, we are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment where all team members feel safe to be themselves without risk of discrimination. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation, and we strive to ensure everyone can contribute authentically and openly.