Learning Mentor - Term Time - Special Needs Position

St Francis Catholic Primary School, Maidstone

• Ref:KCC886-5207-82S
• Posted:17/03/2026
• Pay:KSD
• Start Date:TBC
• App Close Date:14/04/2026 at 23:45
• Interviews:Thursday 23rd April

Advert

Learning Mentor Vacancy

St Francis Catholic Primary School

Are you passionate about transforming children’s lives through connection, compassion, and responsive support?
Do you thrive in a role where every day brings opportunities to make a meaningful difference?
St Francis Catholic Primary School is seeking a dedicated Learning Mentor to join our nurturing, inclusive community.

About the Role

Hours: 31.25 per week (08:30–15:15, Monday–Friday, 30-minute unpaid lunch)
Grade: KSD
Responsible to: SENCo

We are looking for an emotionally attuned, flexible and proactive Learning Mentor to provide bespoke support to pupils with specific and complex needs. This is role is centred on reducing barriers to learning, promoting emotional safety, and enabling pupils to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally.

You will work closely with the SENCo, class teachers, families, and external professionals to deliver tailored interventions that respond to pupils’ needs in the moment.  You will promote positive behaviour and emotional regulation, facilitate individual and small-group sessions and lead restorative conversations.

Who We’re Looking For

Essential Qualities & Experience

• Significant recent experience supporting children with complex emotional and learning needs.
• Strong knowledge of emotional regulation, sensory needs and relational approaches (e.g. Nurture, Trauma-Informed Practice).
• Experience planning, delivering and monitoring targeted interventions.
• Understanding of the APDR cycle and its application to pupil progress.
• Exceptional calmness, adaptability and emotional availability during challenging moments.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and families.
• Confidence in facilitating restorative conversations and maintaining accurate records.
• Willingness to support personal care needs.
• A flexible, reflective and child-centred approach.

Desirable

• Experience supporting pupils through transitions or reintegration.
• Training or experience delivering social skills or emotional literacy programmes.
• Experience developing home–school communication strategies.

We warmly welcome visits to the school, please could contact the school office on 01622 771540 to book your appointment.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for the job position, please click on the button below which will take you through the application process using the job description and person specification. 

Information about the school

St Francis is a popular, inclusive, well- equipped primary school serving a wide Catholic community in Maidstone and beyond. We are a large two form entry school with 420 pupils on roll. The school is housed in a modern building which includes an open plan library. All classes are well resourced and have promethean boards and visualisers.

We are a hardworking, dedicated and enthusiastic team described by Ofsted as “an impressive professional workforce, committed to ensuring that all pupils make progress”. We are committed to enabling all children to achieve the very best they can through a dynamic, creative and questioning curriculum. Staff development is always focused on ensuring outstanding teaching and learning, with challenge for all.

We have a highly skilled workforce which includes specialist staff who support children with learning and emotional needs in a supportive, dedicated environment which is specially resourced.

Our most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024, judged the school to be good.

Tolerance, mutual respect and understanding are central to the excellent relationships and standards of behaviour within the school.

Our children are energetic and friendly and enjoy taking responsibility for themselves and others. We believe in developing the whole child in a happy and safe environment where high expectations of learning and discipline ensure that all are able to achieve academically, spiritually and socially.

We provide an outstanding Catholic education with many opportunities for our children to become immersed in the liturgical life of the school and our parish through daily assemblies, masses and other services.

Our community is enriched through strong relationships with all stakeholders – children, staff, parents, governors and friends work together to secure the best outcomes for our children. You would receive a very warm welcome to our school community.

Job Contact Information

• Name:Mrs Victoria Ebdon
• Address:Queen's Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 0LB
• Telephone: (01622) 771540
• Email: generalenquiries@stfranciscatholicprimary.com

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Job Specification
• Job Description