Learning Support Assistant

Job Description

We are seeking to appoint a committed and compassionate Learning Support Assistant (LSA) to join our dedicated Learning Support Team. This is a fixed-term position, linked specifically to funding allocated to support an individual student with additional needs.

The role is a fixed term to 31 August 2028.

Pay Range: Scale 3-4, Point Range 5-8

Salary: £25,583 - £26,824 (pro rata), commencing £19,265 (actual)

Hours/Weeks: 32.5 hours per week for 39 weeks (Term Time + Inset Days)

Working Pattern: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30 - 15:30,Tuesday & Thursday, 8:25 - 15:25

The successful candidate will work closely with teaching staff and the SENCO to provide tailored support for a student with physical and learning needs. The role will include:

• Supporting a named student in lessons and around the school site
• Assisting with the delivery of high-quality classroom learning and targeted interventions
• Promoting independence and inclusion within the classroom
• Providing personal and intimate care (training will be provided)
• Supporting the student's progress, wellbeing and access to the curriculum
• You may also support small groups, help prepare intervention resources, and contribute to monitoring student progress and outcomes

We are looking for someone who:

• Is patient, empathetic and committed to supporting students with additional needs
• Has good communication and teamwork skills
• Is willing to undertake training, including personal care support
• Can maintain confidentiality and uphold safeguarding responsibilities

Experience of working with children or young people with additional needs would be advantageous, but is not essential.We welcome applications from candidates who share our commitment to inclusion and who want to make a meaningful difference to a young person's school experience.

Appointment of the right candidate is also offered with priority admission for your child (subject to other criteria being met)

We may choose to close the advert early if we fill the vacancy before this date. Early application is therefore recommended.

Information about the School

The Gilberd School is an extremely popular, oversubscribed mixed 11-16 comprehensive school, in North Colchester with a reputation for creating an ethos of high aspirations for all 1570 students. The school is on a large site. There has been considerable expansion and modernisation in recent years. Classroom accommodation is generally modern and spacious. We have excellent sports and performing arts facilities.

We are a large, high performing and oversubscribed 11-16 coeducational school in Colchester and as such, we offer a diverse range of careers. New recruits at The Gilberd School join a happy, positive and busy school. Our students appreciate the excellent education on offer and are positive and motivated. Our staff are our most valuable resource.

There are 200 staff currently working on The Gilberd Site, the teaching staff are ably assisted by a team of talented support staff.

Central to our values and beliefs is The Gilberd Way.

The Gilberd Way

Each Gilberdian should:

Show ambition and commitment

Act with integrity and compassion

Learn with creativity and resilience

These apply just as much to staff as they do to students. One of the strengths of the school is the quality of relationships, amongst staff and between staff and students. We work together within an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust which supports our aims.

The results of our work can be seen in the outcomes we can measure such as examination results. These are consistently excellent. Our many successes have been recognised in our most recent Ofsted report of February 2025 and the school continues to be assessed as Outstanding. Our examination successes are due to the skill and commitment of our hard-working staff who do all they can to ensure all students achieve their best.

We also pride ourselves on the successes that cannot be measured; the positive atmosphere around the school, the pride that we have in the many successes of our staff and students and the genuine warmth of our community. We believe in educating the whole person and have worked to create a school where sporting, artistic and performing events are fully integrated into our lives; hopefully this is reflected in the myriad of activities you can see on our website www.gilberd.com

Appointment of the right candidate is also offered with priority admission for your child (subject to other criteria being met)

The Gilberd School is part of Alpha Academy Trust along with Colchester County High School for Girls, Manningtree High School, The Trinity School and Home Farm Primary School.

Thank you for taking an interest in our school. If you feel The Gilberd School is a school in which you could flourish, we look forward to your application.