1:1 Learning Support Assistant with PMLD Experience - Part-time - Special Needs Position

Woodpecker Court, Dover

• Ref:KCC886-7916-34S
• Posted:22/07/2025
• Pay:Kent pay scheme KS C
• Start Date:From 1st Sept
• App Close Date:14/08/2025 at 12:00
• Interviews:TBC

Advert

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)? Do you have the patience, empathy, and resilience to support a student with complex needs in a nurturing and inclusive environment?

Woodpecker Court is seeking a dedicated Learning Support Assistant (LSA) with experience in PMLD to join our vibrant and supportive team. This is a unique opportunity to provide 1:1 support to a student with complex needs, helping them access learning, develop independence, and thrive in all aspects of provision life.

What You’ll Do

• Provide consistent, tailored 1:1 support to a student with PMLD.
• Adapt learning materials to enhance engagement.
• Support learning both in and outside the classroom.
• Collaborate with tutors, therapists, and families to ensure holistic support.
• Promote independence, safety, and wellbeing.
• Contribute to behaviour plans, risk assessments, and progress reviews.
• Uphold the values of Respect, Resilience, and Relationships.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• Experience supporting children or young people with PMLD or complex SEND.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection.
• Strong communication skills and ability to use assistive technology.
• A calm, empathetic, and proactive approach.
• Team player with a collaborative mindset.

Desirable:

• Training in behaviour management and sensory integration.

Why Join Us?

At Woodpecker Court, an Ofsted Outstanding provision, you’ll be part of a passionate and inclusive team dedicated to transforming the lives of young people with SEND. Nestled in a beautiful woodland setting in the Kent countryside, our unique environment offers a calming and inspiring backdrop for both students and staff. You’ll benefit from ongoing professional development and training tailored to your role, all within a collaborative and supportive community. This is more than just a job—it’s a chance to make a meaningful impact every day, working in a provision built on the values of Respect, Resilience, and Relationships.

This position of for 28.49 hours a week and is a term time only role (39 weeks per year) with an additional mandatory 5 staff development days with in Kent Scheme Pay Scale KS C.

Woodpecker Court is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Disclosure, satisfactory references and pre-employment health screening

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact in a unique and supportive setting, we’d love to hear from you.

For further information about our provision please visit our website - www.woodpeckercourt.co.uk 

To apply please complete the application form and return with any supporting document to personnel@woodpeckercourt.com 

Information about the school

Woodpecker Court is a specialist education provider with specialist post 16 status. We are set in a rural location. We believe that every student is different and treated as an individual and therefore vary our practices to support them holistically. We aim to improve outcomes by providing all of our students with the necessary skills to equip them to sustain their onward destination after leaving us. We have a calm, safe and friendly environment that all of our students together as a community maintain.

We offer our post 16 courses in Land based studies, Animal Care, Catering, or Occupational studies, alongside functional skills English, Maths and Digital Skills.
Many post 16 vulnerable learner programmes fail because the delivery is formal in a classroom. This has not worked for the previous eleven years, so why repeat the process? Block by block, we will enable a young person to tolerate then work with others, show resilience to failure and bad weather. They can have the time and space to express their frustrations in the outdoors. They can fail safely, then learn to succeed. They can develop good peer and staff relationships, and maintain them over time. Then, and only then, do we deliver the formal learning because then students are ready to achieve. Our outdoor experiences are explicitly linked to formal learning objectives. For example, quantities of animal feed are linked to profit margins, having an impact upon Maths.

We provide engagement programmes for learners aged 11-16 by working collaboratively with local schools. Our programmes are run in the great outdoors from our 15 acre site that encompasses woodland, paddocks, classrooms, workshops and at the heart of our community our parachuted fire circles. These engagement programmes offer the chance for schools to prevent exclusion and promote re-engagement by changing the environment completely around the young person. We develop resilience, self-esteem and positivity through introducing routines.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Dawn Fisher
• Address:45 Wigmore Lane, Eythorne, Dover, Kent, CT15 4BF
• Telephone: 01304 830958
• Email: personnel@woodpeckercourt.com

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Privacy notice for job applicants
• Job description