Learning Support Mentor

Location: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Contract Type: Full-Time, Long-Term Opportunity

Working Hours: Monday to Friday (Term-Time Only)

Salary: Competitive daily rate, paid weekly (reflective of experience)

Are you an empathetic, resilient, and proactive individual looking for a meaningful long-term role in education? We are currently seeking a dedicated Learning Support Mentor to join a wonderful, specialised SEN school in Bury St Edmunds.

This is a long-term placement designed for someone who wants to move away from day-to-day supply and instead build strong, consistent therapeutic relationships with students. You will be supporting young people who face significant barriers to learning, including complex Special Educational Needs (SEN), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) challenges, and communication difficulties.

• Provide 1:1 and Small Group Mentoring: Act as a trusted adult and positive role model, guiding vulnerable students through their daily academic and emotional journeys.

• Support Social & Emotional Development: Help students build self-esteem, develop emotional regulation skills, and navigate social interactions safely.

• Remove Barriers to Learning: Implement tailored learning support plans, adapting tasks to match the individual cognitive and sensory profiles of the pupils.

• De-escalation & Behaviour Support: Work proactively to identify triggers, utilising positive behaviour management and de-escalation strategies to maintain a calm learning environment.

• Collaborative Reporting: Work closely with class teachers, therapists, and SENDCos to monitor student well-being and track behavioural and academic progress.

• Proven experience supporting children or young adults with complex needs (ASC, ADHD, SEMH, or profound learning difficulties). Experience in youth work, care, or sports coaching is also highly valuable.

• A patient, nurturing, and exceptionally resilient personality-someone who understands that progress takes time and consistency.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to de-escalate challenging behavior with a calm, neutral approach.

• A proactive mindset, ready to actively assist the class teacher and anticipate the needs of the students.

• A valid Enhanced DBS check registered on the Update Service (or a willingness to complete a new check immediately).

• Long-Term Stability: The opportunity to stay in one setting, integrate into a specialised team, and make a genuine, lasting impact on students' lives.

• Competitive Weekly Pay: Excellent daily rates processed via a weekly payroll system.

• Specialist Environment: Work within a dedicated SEN school featuring excellent sensory and therapeutic facilities.

• Dedicated Consultant: Support from a local specialist with comprehensive knowledge of the West Suffolk specialist education sector.

Step into a role where your consistency and dedication can entirely reshape a child's educational experience.

How to Apply: Please forward your current CV and a brief professional summary detailing your SEN or mentoring experience to [email removed] or contact our office on [phone removed] for a confidential discussion regarding this vacancy in Bury St Edmunds.

We are strictly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All candidates will be required to undergo comprehensive vetting, reference checks, and an enhanced DBS disclosure.

experience

Teaching

skills

ability to track progression in attainment,background in youth work,behaviour management,building relationships,classroom management,communication,de-escalation techniques,empathy,experience in administering medication,experience in managing challenging behaviour,experience with autism spectrum disorders,experience with learning difficulties,experience with social emotional mental health,inclusiveness,manual handling,marking,mentor experience,personal care experience,planning,resilience,restraint training,speech and language therapy experience