Learning Support Assistant

Learning Support Assistant: Music Production & Music Performance Class Support  

Job Description & Person Specification 

Job Title: Learning Support Assistant -

Reporting to: Head Of College

Salary:  £22.5k - £24k - 4 days per week (Pro Rata) 40 weeks - Term Time Only

(Dependent on Experience/Qualifications)

Location: Old Street, Islington, London EC1V 9HX 

Start Date: November 2024

Application Deadline: Ongoing until appointment

About SoundSkool: 

‘Changing Young People’s Lives Through Music’ 

As Founder and CEO, I wanted to personally introduce you to SoundSkool. 

Established in 2008, SoundSkool is a specialist music industry college and community with a vibrant, exciting and creative learning environment, specifically designed to give our students the best start to their music careers. 

In 2021 we entered into a creative delivery partnership with SoapBox, who share our vision and mission of providing accessible creative education and enrichment to young people across London. This partnership enabled us to move into a new creative hub in Old Street and expand in the last academic years. We are accredited to run Level 2 and Level 3 Creative Music qualifications and our partnership will allow us to further develop our curriculum offering and our student cohort. 

We are proud of our community foundations and ethos, and of our music industry connections and partnerships, which extend beyond the classroom and studios of our creative hub, to include the use of facilities and masterclasses in partnership with SoapBox and Music Education Islington as well as a host of industry and community music outreach programmes and activities. 

I am very proud of all of our students and staff team at SoundSkool, everyone here is part of something special and you can feel it as soon as you walk in the door. 

We have a dedicated team of tutors and practitioners who are all creative education specialists and industry professionals, with invaluable experience and expertise and we are excited to receive applications from like-minded dynamic individuals who can share their skills, knowledge and experience to ensure our next cohort’s success. 

We wish you luck with your application and are excited for the future additions to the SoundSkool team. 

Simon Gordon 

CEO & Founder of SoundSkool

Our Music Courses: 

SoundSkool are proud to offer a creative curriculum delivered via Rockschool Level 2 and Level 3 Subsidiary and Extended Diplomas in Music Performance, Production and Business. 

All students also have the opportunity to undertake English and mathematics GCSE or Functional Skills classes, through our own dedicated curriculum teachers and tutors, if they have not yet achieved a grade 4 or above. 

We base our whole curriculum on being industry relevant and have access to incredible and unique music teaching, performance and production facilities at SoapBox as well as being able to offer students the opportunity to access facilities at our partner college campuses. 

All of our assessments, unit briefs and assignments are designed to be industry relevant, and our teaching and learning is supported via a dynamic enrichment programme of masterclasses, guest lectures, work experience and visits to key industry partners which not only underpin classroom theory but expand our student’s industry networks. 

At our heart is our team of dedicated, passionate and outstanding staff who strive to deliver the most exciting, relevant and recognised curriculum; make music education accessible and who continually strive to create tangible progression opportunities for every student.

Purpose of Job 

To provide in-class and 1-2-1 assistance to students aged 16-18 with particular support identified for those with EHCP documented areas of Special or Additional Educational Need (S/AEN) and/or other students who have been identified as having S/AEN/ or Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) need or those that require additional support to succeed in their qualifications. 

Supporting the delivery of a structured and relevant music curriculum through differentiated or supported lesson plans and activities to students across Level 2 and Level 3 RockSchool Diplomas. 

Support student’s work at the college in music performance and production skills to industry standard by supporting the learners through their one or two year programmes. 

Assist Teachers with strategies for ECHP / S/AEN Learners 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

● Work in line with SoundSkool's Vision - CRED - Creativity, Respect, Excellence, Determination; demonstrate these in your own work, embed them in all learning, and work closely with students for them to exhibit positive behaviour and attitude to all aspects of college life. 

● Support students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in day to day college activities and lessons, both for Music and if applicable mathematics and English lessons. 

● Supervising Group Activities

● Offer a mixture of 1-2-1 and in-class lesson support to designated ECHP & S/AEN Learners. 

● Work across all areas of curriculum delivery (including English and mathematics) to ensure that each student is reaching their full potential across the college.

● Work with the Curriculum Manager and Lead Teachers/Learning Managers to develop intervention plans, lesson plans and prepare for lessons.

● Work with the Curriculum Manager and Lead Teachers/Learning Managers to develop targeted Individual Learning Plans for identified and ECHP learners and action differentiated lesson plans to aid their success. 

● Attend tutorials and assist the Learning Managers in setting developmental and progression targets with your assigned students. 

● Build rapport and learning relationships to ensure that all students’ emotional and social needs are met and that they feel settled and part of our overall college community. 

● Assist with the regular collection of data to evidence student progress towards intended outcomes, complete student trackers and engage with target setting, monitoring and interventions. 

● Assist with setting students manageable deadlines to completing work.

● Monitor designated student’s attendance and punctuality and assist Tutors in (re)engaging students with college. 

● Work with designated students to complete their ECHP reviews and tracking documents and attend ECHP Annual Reviews. 

● Utilise available data and other contextual information to inform practice at all times, collating evidence following SoundSkool best practice for record keeping.

● Provide feedback and guidance to Teachers, the Curriculum Manager, SMT and the students. 

● Safeguard and promote the wellbeing of all students, providing personalised learning experiences that are tailored to their needs. 

● Assist with the compilation and completion of student reports and evaluations

● Attend parent evenings, parent meetings and student disciplinary meetings for designated ECHP & S/AEN Learners 

● Undertake planned supervision of students on all SoundSkool trips, visits showcases and out of college activities (including Work Experience if necessary) which may be outside of normal college operating hours. 

● Attend staff training, meetings and tutor meetings. 

● Undergo any training identified as necessary or suitable for your role 

● Commit to SoundSkool’s mission and ethos of ‘Changing Young People’s Lives through Music’ and making music education accessible; as well as further commitments such as our equal opportunities, health & safety and other college policies. 

Person Specification: 

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate our core values of CRED - Creativity, Responsibility, Excellence and Determination and who can demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and experience: 

Skills/Experience: 

● GCSE Mathematics and English, Grade C or above (Essential) 

● Training at Level 2 or L3 Teaching Assistant (Desirable)

● Commitment to completing a Level 2 and L3 Teaching Assistant Qualification alongside this role (Essential)

● Educated to A-Level or equivalent standard qualification or demonstrable support experience (Essential) 

● Undergraduate Degree (Desirable) 

● Previous experience working with young people (Essential) 

● Previous experience as a Learning Assistant, Youth Mentor or as an SEN/AEN Learning Support (Desirable) 

● Skilled in Music Performance (Guitar, Voice, Keys) (Essential) 

● Skilled in Music Production (Essential) 

● Previous experience of working with challenging communities (Desirable)

● Experience of writing SEN lesson plans or intervention strategies

● Excellent organisation and planning skills (Essential) 

● Outstanding communication, interaction and rapport building skills (Essential) ● Demonstrable passion for music/creative education 

● Understanding and experience of; Logic Pro (Essential)

● Ability to implement a student culture of high expectations and achievement (Essential) 

● Ability to coach and support students individually as well as in groups (Essential)

● Skilled in the use of IT and technology e.g. G Suite, Google Classroom etc. (Essential) 

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills (Essential) 

Characteristics and Qualities: 

● Have a genuine passion and belief in the potential of our students.

● Have enthusiasm for working with young people 

● Have a genuine passion for creative education, music and the UK music industry

● Have a helpful, calm, caring and positive disposition. 

● Take a proactive approach to their professional work and regularly goes the extra mile. 

● Be engaging and able to quickly build rapport with young people. 

● Have an honest, respectful and empathetic approach to people and situations.

● Be willing to have a strong, open and honest relationship with colleagues

● Be innovative and open to look for new solutions to teaching and learning barriers. 

Please note this position is subject to the applicant’s right to live and work in the UK and the receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check and references. 

To apply please submit CV and Covering Letter to :