Role: Learning Support Assistant – To commence 4 September 2025
Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus
Salary/Benefits: Salary from £23,557 per annum (Pro-Rata) DOE and Qualifications, People’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.
Hours/Weeks: Up to 30 hours per week over 35 weeks of the year
Contract Type: Permanent – Term Time
About the role:
We are currently seeking a Learning Support Assistant to join our Foundation Learning department at The Bedford College Group .
This role is within the Foundation team that provides support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities within our specialist discrete provision, housed within the purpose built Stansfeld Building located on our Bedford campus.
It is a vibrant team that supports students within all aspects of their learning in line with their individual support needs.
The role could mean you are shopping within the local community with a student in the morning and then returning to the fully equipped flat support them to prepare a snack, before moving onto a work preparation lesson where you are supporting them to take part in a role play activity as they practice their interview skills.
The role provides variety and the opportunity to meet and work with a fantastic team who place students at the heart of all that they do. If you are interested in supporting students to gain the most from their college experience and wish to contribute to their development as individuals, we would love to hear from you!
This role is up to 30 hours per week over 35 weeks of the year.
As a Learning Support Assistant, you play an important role in the success of our students through:
1. Student Support - Provide support to students with SEND in a specialist setting, including personal care and physical support, to help them access the college curriculum and develop independence.
2. Implementation of Support Plans - Follow student support plans under the direction of the Support Worker Coordinator and class teacher, and administer medications as required.
3. Life Skills Development - Develop students' life skills to engage actively within the college and wider community, and prepare and update learning resources.
4. Progress Monitoring - Monitor progress against individual learning plans, maintain records, and contribute to learner reports.
5. Team Collaboration and Safeguarding - Assist teachers with administrative duties, participate in college marketing events, and promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons.
About you:
6. Qualifications and Knowledge - Level 2 in Maths and English, relevant Level 3 qualification or willingness to work towards, and knowledge of SEND.
7. Experience - Experience supporting young people with SEND in educational or care settings, and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
8. Skills and Abilities - Contributing to a high-quality learning environment, effective communication, working independently, and maintaining accurate records.
9. Team Contribution and Attitude - Positive and adaptable attitude, making a positive team contribution, and promoting the college's reputation.
10. Safeguarding and Flexibility - Commitment to safeguarding, forming appropriate relationships, willingness to work on all sites, and promoting student welfare.
For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.
Interviews to be held: 14 May 2025
Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
11. Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
12. Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
13. Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
14. Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
15. Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
16. Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.
Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.
Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. 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. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.
Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.