Learning Support Worker - Alternative Provision

Typical working hours: Between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, subject to successful completion of probation
Start date: As soon as possible following completion of safer recruitment checks

About Wings 4 Growth

Wings 4 Growth is a growing alternative education provision supporting children and young people who may find it difficult to access or engage successfully with mainstream education.

We provide personalised education, mentoring and learning support at our education centres, in learners’ homes and within suitable community settings across Gloucestershire.

Our learners may have Education, Health and Care Plans and a range of additional needs, including autism, ADHD, social, emotional and mental health needs, anxiety, trauma, school avoidance and difficulties with emotional regulation.

Our approach is centred on building positive relationships, recognising each learner’s interests and strengths, and creating an environment in which they feel safe, understood and able to progress.

Wings 4 Growth operates during school term time only. Our typical working hours are between 9:00am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. Individual working patterns will depend on learners’ timetables and the requirements of the role.

Our centre-based and outreach teams

Our Learning Support Workers are generally assigned to one of two teams:

Centre-based team

Members of our centre-based team support learners attending our education centres in Cheltenham.

They work alongside tutors, learning-support colleagues and managers to deliver structured individual and small-group education.

The work may include academic support, personal development, employability, mentoring, community activities and support with emotional regulation and social interaction.

Outreach team

Members of our outreach team travel to learners’ homes and agreed community locations throughout Gloucestershire. Outreach work is generally delivered on a one- to-one basis and requires staff to work independently while remaining in regular communication with the wider team.

For outreach positions, the use of your own car is strongly recommended because of the locations in which support may be delivered. Approved work-related mileage can be claimed at 55p per mile in accordance with the organisation’s mileage policy.

Applicants should state whether they are interested in a centre-based position, an outreach position or would be willing to work across both teams.

About the role

We are looking for experienced and committed Learning Support Workers with a clear educational background to join our team.

This is an education-based position. Applicants must have previous experience supporting children or young people within a school, college, alternative provision, SEND setting, pupil referral unit or another recognised education environment.

The successful candidate will provide individual or small-group support, helping learners to re-engage with education, develop confidence and work towards their academic, personal and social goals.

Main responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Provide one-to-one and small-group learning support.
• Support learners with English, mathematics, Functional Skills, GCSE preparation, ASDAN programmes, employability and personal-development activities.
• Adapt learning activities and resources to meet each learner’s individual needs, abilities and interests.
• Build safe, consistent and professional relationships with learners who may have experienced difficulties engaging with education.
• Support learners with SEND, SEMH needs, anxiety, school avoidance and emotional or behavioural difficulties.
• Help learners develop communication, emotional regulation, resilience, independence and positive relationships.
• Encourage learners to participate in centre-based, home-based and community learning activities.
• Apply clear and consistent expectations while using positive and appropriate behaviour-support strategies.
• Follow individual learning plans, risk assessments, EHCP outcomes and agreed support strategies.
• Record attendance, activities, engagement, progress, concerns and significant incidents accurately and promptly.
• Provide constructive feedback to managers, tutors, parents, carers and other professionals where appropriate.
• Contribute to learner reviews, progress meetings and the development of personalised learning plans.
• Follow Wings 4 Growth’s safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality and professional-boundaries procedures.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and contribute positively to the continued development of the provision.

Essential qualifications and experience
Applicants must:

• Have previous experience working in an educational setting, such as a school, college, alternative provision, SEND provision or pupil referral unit.
• Hold GCSE English and mathematics at Grade 4/C or above, or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Have experience supporting children or young people with additional educational, emotional or behavioural needs.
• Understand the importance of safeguarding, professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Be able to build positive relationships while maintaining clear and consistent expectations.
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Be able to complete accurate daily records and progress reports.
• Be dependable, organised, patient and capable of working both independently and as part of a team.
• Be able to adapt learning activities to meet individual needs.
• Be willing to undertake ongoing training and professional development.
• Have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Applicants seeking an outreach position should hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a suitable vehicle for work-related travel.

Desirable qualifications and experience

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who have:

• A recognised teaching assistant, learning-support or education qualification at Level 2 or above.
• Experience working within alternative provision, SEND, EOTAS or education- based mentoring.
• Experience supporting learners with autism, ADHD, SEMH needs, trauma or emotionally based school avoidance.
• Knowledge of EHCPs and experience working towards individual EHCP outcomes.
• Experience supporting Functional Skills, GCSEs, ASDAN or other accredited learning programmes.
• Training in positive behaviour support, Team Teach, trauma-informed practice, first aid or safeguarding.
• Experience working with parents, carers, schools, local authorities and other professionals.

The person we are looking for

• We are looking for someone who understands that behaviour often communicates an unmet need.
• You will need to be calm, consistent and emotionally resilient. You must be able to encourage and motivate young people without becoming confrontational or giving up when engagement is difficult.
• You should be able to balance warmth and empathy with clear boundaries, professional accountability and high expectations.
• Most importantly, you must believe that young people can make progress when they receive the right relationships, environment and support.

What Wings 4 Growth can offer

• Competitive hourly pay based on qualifications and experience.
• Term-time-only working.
• Typical working hours between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
• Opportunities to work within our centre-based or outreach team.
• Reimbursement of approved outreach mileage at 55p per mile.
• A meaningful role in which you can make a visible difference to young people’s lives.
• An induction and ongoing professional-development opportunities.
• Safeguarding and role-specific training.
• Support from an experienced education and provision-management team.
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of a growing alternative provision.

Safeguarding statement

Wings 4 Growth Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment.

Any offer of employment will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check with the relevant barred-list information, verification of identity and right to work, satisfactory employment references, qualification checks and an online search where appropriate.

Applicants will be required to disclose any relevant convictions, cautions or other information in accordance with current safeguarding and rehabilitation-of-offenders requirements.

How to apply

Please send:

• Your current CV, including a full employment and education history.
• A supporting statement explaining your education-sector experience and why you are interested in working for Wings 4 Growth.
• Confirmation of whether you are applying for the centre-based team, outreach team or both.
• Confirmation of whether you hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
• Details of two professional referees, including your current or most recent employer.

Applications should be emailed by clicking on Apply Now with the subject line:
Application – Learning Support Worker

Further information about Wings 4 Growth can be found on our website.

Wings 4 Growth Ltd reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate
before the advertised closing date.