Learning Support Assistant
| Posting date: | 18 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £19,205.87 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 14 January 2026 |
| Location: | Maidstone, Kent |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Acorn Care and Education |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 298525FAJ |
Summary
How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place — and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: Learning Support Assistant
Location: Heath Farm College, Maidstone ME16 0ER
Salary: £19,205.87 per annum (Not pro rata)
Hours: 32.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time only
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
Heath Farm College is looking for a dedicated Learning Support Assistant to join our passionate and supportive team. You will play a vital role in helping pupils with varied and complex needs access learning, build confidence, and achieve their potential.
About the Role
As a Learning Support Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting pupils with varied and complex needs to access learning, build confidence and achieve their potential.
Working closely with teachers and colleagues, you will create a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where pupils feel valued, supported, and motivated to learn. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone committed to making a positive impact on young people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities
Support teachers to deliver creative and inclusive lessons tailored to individual pupil needs
Work with individual pupils and small groups to promote engagement, progress, and achievement
Prepare classrooms, resources, and learning materials to support effective teaching
Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils to encourage learning and interaction
Assist in lesson planning and delivery within a supportive, creative environment
Promote pupils’ social, emotional, and educational development throughout the school day
Maintain high standards of safeguarding, ensuring pupils feel safe, respected, and listened to
Work collaboratively as part of a close-knit and supportive staff team
The Ideal Candidate
Calm, patient, and resilient with a positive, flexible approach
Motivated to support pupils with SEN, ASC, or complex needs (experience desirable but not essential)
Enjoys teamwork and building strong professional relationships
Brings transferable skills from customer-facing roles such as retail, hospitality, or leisure
Educated to GCSE grade C / 4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)
Committed to helping every pupil achieve their full potential and build a positive future
About Us
Heath Farm College is an independent specialist sixth form college that caters for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. We offer a unique and stimulating environment where every student is able to make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education.
Heath Farm College is situated in Maidstone and has capacity to support up to 58 students. The provision facilitates a professional post 16 provision for students with EHCPs who are not ready for a large FE college or large school/academy 6th Form provision.
We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why join Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Our school will adopt the 4DWW once we have a full team in place — and with the rollout already underway across the wider Group, now is the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: Learning Support Assistant
Location: Heath Farm College, Maidstone ME16 0ER
Salary: £19,205.87 per annum (Not pro rata)
Hours: 32.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time only
Start Date: January 2026
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
Heath Farm College is looking for a dedicated Learning Support Assistant to join our passionate and supportive team. You will play a vital role in helping pupils with varied and complex needs access learning, build confidence, and achieve their potential.
About the Role
As a Learning Support Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting pupils with varied and complex needs to access learning, build confidence and achieve their potential.
Working closely with teachers and colleagues, you will create a safe, engaging, and inclusive environment where pupils feel valued, supported, and motivated to learn. This is a rewarding opportunity for someone committed to making a positive impact on young people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities
Support teachers to deliver creative and inclusive lessons tailored to individual pupil needs
Work with individual pupils and small groups to promote engagement, progress, and achievement
Prepare classrooms, resources, and learning materials to support effective teaching
Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils to encourage learning and interaction
Assist in lesson planning and delivery within a supportive, creative environment
Promote pupils’ social, emotional, and educational development throughout the school day
Maintain high standards of safeguarding, ensuring pupils feel safe, respected, and listened to
Work collaboratively as part of a close-knit and supportive staff team
The Ideal Candidate
Calm, patient, and resilient with a positive, flexible approach
Motivated to support pupils with SEN, ASC, or complex needs (experience desirable but not essential)
Enjoys teamwork and building strong professional relationships
Brings transferable skills from customer-facing roles such as retail, hospitality, or leisure
Educated to GCSE grade C / 4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)
Committed to helping every pupil achieve their full potential and build a positive future
About Us
Heath Farm College is an independent specialist sixth form college that caters for young people with social, emotional and mental health needs. We offer a unique and stimulating environment where every student is able to make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education.
Heath Farm College is situated in Maidstone and has capacity to support up to 58 students. The provision facilitates a professional post 16 provision for students with EHCPs who are not ready for a large FE college or large school/academy 6th Form provision.
We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why join Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.