Job Description

An opportunity has arisen in our team for a Bilingual Learning Assistant who speaks Malayalam. This is a busy, sometimes challenging role, perfect for someone who wants to make a difference to children's lives and enjoys working as part of a culturally diverse team.

The service

EMAS are a team of Bilingual Learning Assistants, Bilingual Support Officers and Advisers working with the Education team. We work in partnership with schools to meet the needs of bilingual learners and ethnic minority pupils at risk of under-achievement. We support pupils across both primary and secondary age phases, as well as in nursery settings.

The Role

You will provide a support service complementary to teaching activities, primarily through first language or bilingual communication, acting as a classroom assistant and supporting the language and learning needs of pupils, particularly in their access to the national curriculum. You will support the class/subject teacher or EMAS adviser in providing a stress-free 'settling-in' period for new entrants, recent arrivals or returnees from extended stays in country of origin. You will assist in monitoring progress and assessing performance, communicate important information to teachers about the child's full language repertoire, and assist in the production of bilingual language/curriculum support materials.

The ideal candidate

Will have /be

fluency in English and first language good numeracy and literacy skills excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills experience of working with children at home and/or in a school setting experience of interpretation and translation (formally or informally) the ability to deal with different situations in a sensitive manner particularly when working with children, families and schools. the ability to support school staff effectively in the classroom an understanding of the need for confidentiality in working with children, school staff and parents the ability to promote diversity within the school setting (including religion, culture and language) to remain calm and focussed when working under pressure the willingness to learn and develop additional skills required by the service to be mobile enough to work at locations city wide as required by the service.

Please ensure that you read the full job profile attached for the details and expectations of this role, paying particular attention the section 'Who is the person' as you will need to refer to this when completing your Personal statement.

Working Arrangements:

All hours to be worked in schools.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Ruth Nabholz-Duncan, Bilingual Assistant Deployment Manager, ruth.nabholz-duncan@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, 023 92 841 549

Interview dates:

14th & 15th January 2026

Application process

We anonymise applications during application & shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.


As part of your application we ask that you complete a personal statement, this statement is crucial and is where you must demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the job against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience.


We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal


We are committed to offering an interview to all those candidates that qualify under our corporate commitments and meet the minimum criteria, however, for roles that receive a large number of applications, we will select the candidates that best meet the minimum criteria.

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

About Portsmouth City Council

What we can offer you:

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.


Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our careers portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council



Portsmouth City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.


DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.


Every post is subject to PCC and Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership safer recruitment procedures.

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk. or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616800