Job Description

Learning Support Assistant (

SEMH /

SEN), Shaftesbury

Join our supportive and dynamic team as a Learning Support Assistant

Do you want to work in an environment where the focus is on educating the whole child? Are you passionate about supporting and empowering some of the most inspiring and unique young people in Dorset? Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children with additional needs? We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Learning Support Assistant to work closely with class teacher to enhance pupil progress, whilst also promoting their independence, self-esteem and social inclusion. You will also collaborate with our Pastoral Support team, Therapeutic Thinking Lead and Therapy team to create a nurturing learning environment.



We'd love to hear from you if you:



? Have a passion for supporting children with

SEMH (social, emotional, and mental health) needs

and

neurodiversity

such as autism.



? Have experience as a

SEND Teaching Assistant

,

Learning Support Assistant

or Youth Worker

, supporting children with additional needs.



? Are currently working in a

mainstream

Secondary setting and eager to take the next step into

Special Education

.



If you're patient, empathetic, and enthusiastic about helping young people who are vulnerable and/or who have a special educational needs, we would love to welcome you to our team!

More about the role:

Assist teachers and other staff to create a positive learning environment. Capacity to offer therapeutic support to pupils. Engage pupils in activities and learning planned by the teacher - both on and off site. Support pupils in managing their behaviour and learning. Equip pupils with essential coping skills. Support pupils to improve their behaviour through a positive behaviour approach. Teach pupils emotional self-regulation skills and social interaction and communication skills under the guidance of the class teacher. Please review the job description and person specification for further information about the role. If you would like to work at a very special, caring, and nurturing school, please complete the application process.

Excellent salary

range

from 25,989 - 26,824 FTE per annum (Actual term time only for this position is

2

2,

878

to

2

3

,

613

p

er annum

).

Working hours are:

Full Time (35 hours)

08.30 - 16.00 Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

08.30 - 16.30 on a Wednesday

08.30 - 15.30 on a Friday

What Coombe House School can offer you:

+ A workplace set in beautiful surroundings. + Competitive salary.
+ - Access to an employee assistance programme.
+ - Enhanced Pension Scheme (10% employers' contribution).
+ - Continuous professional development and training
+ - Use of leisure facilities (gym and swimming pool), at specified times.
+ - Death in Service (3 x salary).
+ - Health Care Plan after probation period - claim back costs towards dental check-ups, eye tests, prescription charges and therapies.
+ - Highly supportive leadership team and working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of other SEN Specialists.
+ The opportunity to play an integral part at the infancy of this exciting and unique journey.
We will commence interviews prior to the closing date, so please don't delay in making an application.

Deadline for applications:

Sunday 30 November

2025

.

This post involves working with children or vulnerable adults and/or having access to significant information about them and will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.



We are committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works in our school (and visitors to our school) to share this commitment. We take all safeguarding and welfare concerns seriously and encourage our pupils to talk to us about any worries they may have. We will always act in the best interests of the child. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS.




Please contact Claire Taylor, Assistant HR Manager on 01747 449858 for any queries.



Coombe House School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.



We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.



The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.



This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.



This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ's guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.



Keeping Children Safe in Education



Coombe House School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.