Apply Today – Join ASENEA

Do You Have the Right Experience?

Before you apply for a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) role, please make sure you meet the following requirements:

Experience

To ensure we provide the highest standard of care and support, all applicants must have at least three months of experience working or volunteering in an SEN/SEND school. This experience is essential for understanding the needs of SEN students, the school environment, and the type of support required.

This experience includes:

• Teaching Assistant in an SEN/SEND school.
• Support Worker in a SEN/SEND School.
• Volunteer in an SEN/SEND setting for three months or more.
• Care/Support Worker who has worked with SEN/SEND children.

If you do not yet have this experience, we encourage you to gain some volunteer experience in an SEN school first before applying. This will ensure that you’re fully prepared for the role and confident in supporting students with additional needs.

Skills

Having the below skills will greatly improve your ability to work in a SEN/SEND school:

Communication Skills

• Clear verbal and written communication: You need to be able to communicate effectively with students, colleagues, and parents, especially those who have communication difficulties.
• Active listening: Understanding students’ needs and concerns is crucial.
• Use of alternative communication systems: Skills in Makaton, British Sign Language (BSL), or other augmentative communication systems are often required for non-verbal or partially verbal students. This is not mandatory, but some schools may ask for this.

Patience and Empathy

• Patience is crucial, as many SEN students require extra time to learn and process information.
• Empathy helps you understand students’ feelings and respond appropriately, especially in challenging situations.

Safeguarding and Health & Safety Knowledge

• Understanding and implementing safeguarding procedures to ensure the well-being of students.
• Awareness of health and safety protocols to keep students safe at all times.

Adaptability and Flexibility

• SEN students may have varying needs and preferences, so you must be adaptable to different teaching strategies, support methods, and environments.
• You might need to adjust your approach depending on the student’s specific disability or learning difficulty.

Organisational Skills

• Time management: Balancing various tasks and ensuring the needs of each student are met requires strong organisational skills.
• Record-keeping: Accurately tracking student progress, behaviours, and challenges is essential.

Understanding of SEN Needs

• Knowledge of different SEN types: This includes autism, dyslexia, ADHD, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and emotional/behavioural difficulties.
• Understanding the educational plans for each student (e.g., EHCPs – Education, Health, and Care Plans) is vital.

Ability to Provide Personal Care

• Some SEN students may require support with basic tasks such as feeding, dressing, or personal hygiene, especially in more severe cases.

Behavioural Management Skills

• Ability to support students with challenging behaviours or emotional difficulties in a calm, constructive manner.
• Understanding how to implement positive behavioural support strategies and interventions.

Technical and Assistive Technology Skills

• Familiarity with assistive technologies: Devices and software that help students with communication or learning difficulties.
• Comfort with using specialised educational apps and software.

If you have the above experience, and feel you also have the skills, we would love to have you on the team! You can begin your application by pressing the “Apply Now” button below.