Apprentice - Learning Support Assistant

Job Introduction

Learning Support Assistant - APPRENTICESHIP

Hampshire

• Closing Date:  Monday 29th June (12pm)
• Interview Date(s): Thursday 2nd July
• Job Start Date: 1st September 2026
• Contract/Hours: APPRENTICESHIP
• Salary Type: Support Staff 
• Salary Details: £10 per hour  
• Hours of Work: 32.5 hours per week, Term time only.
• Location of Role: Woodcroft Primary School 
• Contact e-mail address: z.king@woodcroft.hants.sch.uk

Job/Person Summary 
 

At Woodcroft Primary School, the staff work as a team to provide an exciting curriculum that broadens the experiences and opportunities for our children. We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic LSA to support our children in all aspects of their education. Working closely with the class teacher, you will support both individuals and groups in all aspects of the curriculum. Developing strong relationships with our pupils is essential and helps them to flourish socially and academically. Our work to support our pupils’ personal development was rated outstanding by Ofsted (2024), something the whole team is passionate about.

We are able to give the successful candidate experience and training to work across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
 

The successful candidate will need to:

• Have a sense of humour and be a positive influence for our children’s learning 
• Have high expectations of learning. 
• Be able to develop good working relationships with children
• Be patient and calm
• Have the ability to work with the class teacher and support a child to access a range of learning
• Have previous experience of working with children on a 1:1 basis
• Prepare appropriate resources to meet the needs of the child
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Have 5 GCSEs including Maths and English
• Able to work independently with initiative
• Be competent in the use of ICT

 We can offer you:

• Excellent professional development within the school   
• An opportunity to work with a dedicated, committed and supported team of staff across the school
• An opportunity to work in a primary school that encourages creativity and always seeks to make a difference to pupils and the whole community

Job Purpose

To support teachers implementing their planning successfully so that the learning needs for all pupils are met while completing the Apprenticeship alongside the role.

Role Requirements 

Support for Pupils

To work with individual or groups of children, assist in ensuring pupils are kept on task and complete activities set by teachers. To deal with behavioural and special needs issues in conjunction with the teacher.

Support for Teachers

To help implement lesson plans. To provide feedback to pupils without reference to the teacher. To take small class of small group of pupils for defined activities e.g. reading, in the presence of a class teacher. 

Support for Curriculum

To contribute with the teacher to lesson contents and aims and to support and work with the teacher in testing and assessment. To review progress of pupils against learning programmes.

Support for the School

To carry out specific specialist responsibility and support other staff in this area when required, including playtime supervision and the ability to detect signs of behavioural issues. In conjunction with the teacher, liaise with parents on pupil progress. 

To implement curriculum policies.

Corporate and Statutory Initiatives

To maintain an awareness of school, national and statutory policies and requirements and apply these in the workplace.

The role dimensions - financial and non-financial

The role dimensions of the LSA will vary according to the experience of the employee. Written reports required from the LSA are details and complicated especially if they are addressing complicated pupil needs.

The main contacts – external/internal customer contacts and purpose

Internal (in school): pupils, other colleagues, teachers, Headteacher.

External: (outside school and usually under the direction of the teacher) Education Psychologist, Education Welfare Officer, Parents, GPs, Hospital Staff, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, other LEA specialist colleagues, outside contractors, specialist groups on educational visits, students, escorts, Police.

Working conditions – environment, and physical effort or strain

• School and classroom based learning environment (sometimes significantly constrained in terms of space/equipment/seating) – responsibility, with teacher, for maintaining calm. 
• External working on trips, educational visits etc. 
• Trained to undertake very personal/intimate medical work for children with special needs. 
• Manual handling responsibilities. 
• Expected to maintain behaviour management standards of children, some of whom can be especially challenging and difficult and deal with racial/abusive language and bullying. 
• Health & Safety responsibility for self, children and area which is particularly demanding in a child-centred environment.

Context/additional Information

The role has a high confidentiality component and needs to hold the trust and confidence of both the pupils and teachers. It acquires information on child protection/family sensitive issues which must be treated carefully and appropriately,

High levels of stress are generated by various aspects of the role including when dealing with individual pupils and/or groups with complex and demanding learning needs. The LSA’s working hours require constant pupil contact and there is no provision for attendance when children are not there. 

Progression in Role

To be successfully selected, the employee must have the following role-related knowledge, skills and experience:

• Empathy with pupils and sympathetic to their needs 
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills
• Good communication skills and able to clarify and explain instructions clearly
• Professionally discrete and able to respect confidentiality on particular issues
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and sense of humour enabling effective relationships with a variety of different people. 
• Team Worker
• Completion of the Teaching Assistant Level 3 Apprenticeship

Operationally effective: How would effectiveness in role be demonstrated?

• Firm, sensitive and effective approach towards pupil discipline
• Good organisational ability
• Able to work at a basic level with the teacher in planning and delivery of teaching activities (including those defined in Individual Education Plans)
• Able to monitor and record pupil progress
• Competent in working with group of pupils with some supervision from the teacher
• Ability to apply knowledge and skills from training in practical classroom context
• Flexible in relation to tasks undertaken and groups/children allocated
• Ability to motivate and encourage children appropriately
• Ability to work independently and with initiative
• Ability to establish and maintain good relationships and rapport with other colleagues in the school and external contacts (e.g. parents, education psychologist, speech therapist)

Visits to the school are welcome. If you have any questions, would like an application pack or would like to book an appointment please contact Mrs. Zoe King on 023 92 593939 or e-mail z.king@woodcroft.hants.sch.uk

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.