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Learning Support Specialist - Full-time

City of Rochester School, Cliffe Woods

  • Ref:KCC887-6011-38S
  • Posted:17/09/2021
  • Pay:£18,059 - £20,869 (not pro-rata'd!)
  • Start Date:Immediate
  • App Close Date:30/09/2021 at 12:00
  • Interviews:TBC

Advert

“A good school with outstanding Pupil Personal Development and Leadership” Ofsted 2021

The City of Rochester School is a specialist independent school for children, young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Now is an exciting time to join this wonderful school. We believe that personalised teaching and learning in an autism specific environment allows pupils’ individual needs to be met and their capabilities fully realised. Our vision is powerful and ambitious.

We are seeking 1:1 LSAs and/or HLTAs and a Youth Worker at primary and secondary level.

We offer:

  • An actual salary of up to £25,000 depending on experience and qualifications
  • Employer’s pension contribution of 3%
  • All school holidays plus up to 10 additional days holiday entitlement
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Full induction programme
  • Monthly professional training and development
  • 8 Inset Days with a focus on autism best practice and curriculum knowledge and development
  • Career progression routes from Learning Support, to Higher Level Teaching Assistance to Unqualified Teacher to fully qualified teacher status for the right candidates

We aim to:

  • provide excellence in education outcomes for all children
  • develop independence and self-advocacy
  • help children develop socially, emotionally and personally

 

You should have:

  • Level 2/3 NVQ: Learning Support or the willingness to work towards
  • A Youth Worker qualification or the willingness to work towards
  • Good literacy and numeracy skills
  • Ability to communicate effectively with learners and their parents/carers
  • Ability to work with parents
  • Patience and an ability to manage behaviour in a positive way

 

You will be highly motivated to support students with special needs inside and outside the classroom to make progress and fulfil their potential.  

Prior experience of working with ASD learners is desirable but not essential. If you have a positive attitude and commitment, we will support you to develop your career in this specialist area working with a strong team.

The City of Rochester School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check. A prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time, once we have received sufficient applications

Information about the school

Welcome from the Headteacher of City of Rochester School.

City of Rochester School is a specialist school for children and young people aged 5–18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). We are proud of our pupils, our strong partnerships with parents and carers, and our dedicated staff team who work together to create a safe, happy and inspiring environment for learning.

As a small school, we offer a highly personalised and bespoke curriculum built around the individual pupil. Guided by our core principles of Confidence, Resilience and Success, our curriculum is broad and ambitious, combining academic, vocational and creative learning delivered through a therapeutic and nurturing approach.

From Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, pupils can access a range of accredited programmes, from entry-level qualifications to GCSEs and beyond. Experiential learning is a key feature of our curriculum and includes opportunities such as forest school, STEM activities, photography, wellbeing, music, geographical exploration and meaningful work experience. Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 also access age-appropriate vocational experiences at the Vocational College that build early practical skills, curiosity and independence.

Our partners include Squirrell’s Riding School, Larkin Farm, Creepy Claws Farm, Medway League of Friends and St Helen’s Church – to name a few. These partners understand the individual needs of our pupils and work with patience, flexibility and care to support confidence, inclusion and success beyond the classroom.

A key strength of the school is our Vocational College, which provides practical, hands-on pathways for pupils who thrive through technical and vocational learning. Courses include construction trades, engineering and motor vehicle studies, with English and mathematics embedded throughout. This provision is particularly well suited to pupils who do not enjoy learning in a traditional classroom environment and who are motivated by learning through "doing".

Our post-16 provision, based at the Vocational College, focuses on preparing pupils for adulthood and life after education. Bespoke programmes develop independence, employability and life skills, including access to our on-site flat and extended work experience opportunities that support successful next steps.

Alongside academic learning, we place a strong emphasis on pupils’ social, emotional and communication development. Our therapeutic approach is embedded across the school and supported by a wraparound therapy team, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, arts therapy and counselling. Strong relationships between staff, pupils and families form the foundation of our work.

During the most recent Ofsted Inspection in July 2024, inspectors recognised that “the school has designed its educational offer very carefully to ensure that pupils achieve well academically,” with learning that “deliberately builds on what came before and enables pupils to build their knowledge and understanding in manageable steps.” They also noted that pupils “work hard to meet the school’s high expectations for their behaviour and conduct and to achieve well in their learning.”

This picture is strongly reinforced by feedback from our Parent Survey (2025), where all parents who responded said that their child is happy at City of Rochester School and spoke positively about the progress their child has made both academically and personally. Parents highlighted improvements in confidence, engagement with learning and readiness for next steps, saying that the consistent support helps pupils achieve success in ways that are meaningful for them.

City of Rochester School also benefits from an experienced and supportive Trustee Board, whose breadth of knowledge and expertise provides strong strategic oversight and ensures a continued focus on high standards and positive outcomes for pupils.

We are proud of our school community and warmly welcome you to City of Rochester School.

Alicja Emmett Headteacher

Job Contact Information

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.