Learning Support Assistant jobs in Poole

Reintegration and Outreach Learning Mentor – The Quay School (Harbourside Campus)

Grade F - £29,071 - £33,119 (actual salary for term time only £24,878 - £28,342)

Permanent, 37 hours per week, Term time only

The Quay School is OFSTED rated Outstanding, a National Teaching School Hub and a progressive educational establishment that supports young people through difficult times in their lives. Our tagline is ‘A Place to Belong and Flourish’ because we believe every child deserves that.

Are you looking for a fresh challenge?

We are an Alternative Provision school spread across 4 campuses; each catering to students with specific Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. This means we think of our students as individuals and respond to their needs as such. Our aim for our students is for them to become knowledgeable, self-aware, independent and happy people who make a positive difference, wherever life takes them. The PACE approach is integral to the work we do. We also draw on Solution-focussed brief therapy, Growth Mindset, Unconditional Positive Regard, Restorative Justice, Pro-social modelling and the key principles of trauma-informed practice. Some knowledge of these approaches is highly desirable and an eagerness to embrace them is essential!

Are you looking to improve your work/life balance?

We know working in schools can be stressful and it is easy to give over a lot of your personal time to work. We strongly believe that work should not take over every aspect of your life in order to support both your physical and mental health, and so we offer:

• A skilled, compassionate, genuinely supportive team who reflect together, and understand the emotional weight of the work.
• Friday afternoons off
• Strong induction and ongoing training
• A school that celebrates progress, not just academic data
• A role where the impact is real, human and lasting
• Free access to the Employee Assistance Programme and our Cycle to Work Scheme.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust - a growing Trust where our mission is “making lives better” and our values are kindness, collaboration and creativity.

Who are we looking for? What does the job involve?

We require someone to work with intervention students who will be spending 2 days a week on our Harbourside base, these students will struggle with their social, emotional and mental health which has resulted in them struggling to engage at their mainstream school. This role will involve helping the students to re-integrate back into their mainstream school following the intervention place. It will also involve working in mainstream schools with groups of students who are struggling to engage and the staff who work with them to support them in developing strategies etc. to help prevent exclusions.

This role needs someone who can form positive relationships with young people to do this you will need to show patience, care and understanding. You will receive training to support you in this role. You will be part of an inclusive and collaborative team that, no matter what the challenge may be, are ready to face it head on and are committed to seeing it through. You will need to be flexible, resilient and positive.

Your own transport with the correct insurance will be needed as you will be visiting local schools (mileage is fully reimbursed). Previous experience of working with young people with additional needs is desired but not essential, although a reasonable grasp of basic IT programmes is a must.

This role is based on our Harbourside Campus, Turlin Road, BH16 5AH. Visits are welcome, please contact Sharon Mallon – s.mallon@thequayschool.com

Closing date: 22nd November 2026

Interview date: 3rd December 2026

Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.

Become part of our journey by completing our Application Form and returning it to recruitment@southern.education if you would like to apply (please see Job Description, and Safeguarding Children Policy for further information). Click apply to be taken to our website, where links to the above documents can be found.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer. 

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance.   The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

Pay: £24,878.00-£28,342.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person