Learning Support Assistant
Provide targeted help and support to pupils who need it most
What does a Learning Support Assistant do?
Learning Support Assistants will typically work one-to-one with children with special educational needs and disabilities to make sure they can get the most out of classroom life.
With both academic and pastoral duties to attend to, your average LSA has a lot of plates to spin. In the course of a school day, a Learning Support Assistant might:
Liaise with the classroom teacher about how best to support pupils
Read with pupils
Help with schoolwork
Prepare learning materials
Work with a child to build their communication skills
Help children with physical and hygienic tasks
A good Learning Support Assistant gives a teacher the confidence to teach the class as a whole, safe in the knowledge that the children who need a helping hand are receiving individuated attention.
In this immensely fulfilling position, you’re given the chance to boost the prospects of children who might otherwise struggle with mainstream learning.
What qualifications do I need to become a Learning Support Assistant?
To become a Learning Support Assistant, you will need two or more passing grades at GCSE, including English and maths, and to pass an enhanced DBS check.
It may also help your applications to take a special qualification, such as a Level 2 or 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools.
What is the difference between a Learning Support Assistant and a teaching assistant?
The two terms can often be used interchangeably, and there is a large overlap between the two roles.
As a rule of thumb, while a teaching assistant will run academic catch-up activities across a whole class, a Learning Support Assistant is expected to provide a greater level of one-to-one support to particular pupils.
What types of school do Learning Support Assistants work in?
Learning Support Assistants can be found in all types of schools, from mainstream Primary and Secondary schools to Special schools and Alternative Provision settings.
Where can a job as a Learning Support Assistant take me?
The experience you gain working with young people in this role is invaluable for anyone seeking a longer-term career in education, and many Learning Support Assistants go on to become teachers.
A stint as an LSA will provide the ideal springboard for an Initial Teacher Training course; you’ll have already gained a close-up view of the dynamics of a real-life classroom.
If you’re a graduate LSA seeking to go into teaching, you can apply for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Non-graduates can apply for an undergraduate Initial Teacher Education or Training programme such as a Bachelor of Education.