Learning Support Assistant - Highworth Combined School

Overview

Join a school where every child is known, valued and inspired to thrive. At Highworth Combined School & Nursery, we are unapologetically ambitious for all our pupils and deeply committed to nurturing curiosity, achievement, resilience and strong relationships at the heart of everything we do. Our two school rules are simple: Be Kind and Work Hard.

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Learning Support Assistant to join our close-knit team from November 2026. If you believe that, with the right support, every child can flourish and succeed, we would love to hear from you.

Salary: Bucks Pay Range ISN 6-10 £24,836-£25,823 pa, Actual salary for full time 32.5 hours: £18,040-£18,757 pa

Contract: Permanent

Start date: November 2026 (exact date to be agreed with the successful candidate).

Hours: Full time; 5 days a week; 8.30am-3.30pm with 30 minute lunch break

Closing date: 9am Monday 2^nd November 2026 (applications reviewed on receipt; start date November 2026)

About us

Highworth is a large, vibrant and inclusive primary school and nursery in High Wycombe, with around 450 pupils aged 3 to 11. Our pupils are curious, respectful and well behaved, and Ofsted's most recent report (February 2024) praised their behaviour and attitudes to learning.

What makes Highworth a great place to work:

•  Kind, knowledgeable colleagues and a supportive team around you, including a dedicated SENCo and Inclusion team
•  A strong, evidence-informed culture: instructional coaching and high-quality training are part of everyday life, so you will keep learning and growing
•  A school that values inclusion, including our Additionally Resourced Provision for hearing support and our nurture provision
•  A genuine commitment to work-life balance and a sensible workload, with no unnecessary meetings
•  Supportive parents, carers and governors

School website: www.highworth.bucks.sch.uk

About the role

As a Learning Support Assistant at Highworth, you will play a vital role in helping pupils to access learning and to grow in independence. Working closely with class teachers and our SENCo, you will support individuals and small groups in lessons and deliver planned interventions such as phonics, early reading and maths, helping pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and other pupils who need extra help to make strong progress.

Your day-to-day work will include:

• supporting pupils in class and delivering small-group and one-to-one interventions
• helping pupils with SEND to take a full part in school life, working with the SENCo and outside specialists
• modelling our values and school rules, and supporting pupils' wellbeing and behaviour, including lunchtime supervision
• keeping teachers and the SENCo informed about pupils' progress, and building positive relationships with families

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference every day, with training and coaching to help you develop in the role and a collaborative team committed to giving every child the best possible education.

About you

Qualifications:

• GCSE (or equivalent) at grade 4/C or above in English and maths (essential)
• Level 2 or Level 3 qualification in supporting teaching and learning, or other relevant qualification for working with children (desirable)
• Paediatric first aid or emergency first aid certificate (desirable)

Experience:

• Experience of working with primary-aged or younger children, in a paid or voluntary role (essential)
• Experience of supporting pupils with SEND, delivering small-group interventions (such as phonics), or working in a primary school or nursery (desirable)

Knowledge and Skills:

• A belief that all pupils, including those with SEND, can achieve highly, and an understanding of how children learn (essential)
• Understanding of the responsibilities of adults working with children, including safeguarding (essential)
• Ability to follow a structured programme accurately and use calm, consistent, positive behaviour strategies (essential)
• Clear spoken and written English, accurate record-keeping, and confident use of IT (essential)
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and of approaches such as Makaton or British Sign Language (desirable)

Personal Qualities (in line with our values of Curiosity, Achievement, Resilience and Relationships):

• A keen learner who welcomes coaching and feedback
• High expectations of every child and of yourself, with close attention to detail
• Calm, patient and resilient, able to adapt to change and prioritise effectively
• Kind, warm and respectful in your relationships with children, colleagues and families; a reliable team player who is discreet with confidential information.
• Commitment to inclusion, equality and the safeguarding and welfare of children

Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details.

Other information

For more information please contact Miss Nicky Chivers on 01494 525534 or email [email protected]

All applicants to complete and return a Buckinghamshire Council application form. Please return completed applications to [email protected].

For more information, or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Miss Nicky Chivers on 01494 525534 or email [email protected]

Highworth Combined School & Nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be requested for the successful candidate. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online search as part of our pre-employment checks, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.