Community Care Learning Support Assistant (Aylesbury)

Centre: NMT Bucks & Herts (Aylesbury) Employer: New Meaning Training Salary: Salary negotiable and based on experience Type: Permanent, Full-time, Term Time Only Hours: 37.5 hours per week Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:30-16:30 Closing Date: 13/07/2026 12:00 am Job Reference: BUCCCLSA062601 Some of the young people we work with don't trust education straight away. That makes sense-if things haven't gone well before, it can take time to feel safe enough to try again. This is where relationships matter most. In our Community Care pathway, learning happens through real-life experiences-supporting others, building independence, and learning how to navigate the world beyond education. We're looking for a Learning Support Assistant who can work alongside tutors and young people, helping them stay engaged, build confidence, and take small steps forward. This role is less about delivering content, and more about being present-consistent, calm and supportive-especially when things feel uncertain. Key Responsibilities

• Support learners in community-based and classroom activities
• Help young people develop independence, communication and life skills
• Work 1:1 and in small groups, adjusting your approach as needed
• Encourage engagement, attendance and participation
• Support learners in managing routines and expectations
• Build steady, trusting relationships with young people
• Respond calmly to behaviour and moments of frustration or anxiety
• Support trips, visits and practical activities in the community
• Assist tutors with session delivery and preparation
• Help track learner progress and engagement
About us New Meaning Training offers education with a difference. We work with young people aged 15-25 who haven't always had a straightforward experience of education. Some have been misunderstood, some have disengaged, and some are still working out where they fit. What they find here is something steadier - a place where there's time to settle in, where expectations are clear, and where they're not judged on what's gone before. We now operate across six centres in High Wycombe (our HQ), Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon and Nuneaton, supporting around 320 learners in the 2026-2027 academic year. Across all centres, we offer a growing range of "Introduction to" programmes, with several new courses launching this September. These courses - spanning areas such as Motor Mechanics, Construction, Hair & Beauty, Creative Arts, Computing, Sport, Retail and Hospitality - are designed to give young people the chance to try things out properly, build practical skills, and start to see what they might be good at. Everything is grounded in learning through doing, with a focus on making education feel possible from the start. Each of our centres has its own rhythm, but there's a shared way of working across the organisation. Teams are close-knit, supportive, and practical - people step in for each other, share ideas, and keep things moving on days that don't go to plan (which happens). There's a steady sense that everyone's working towards the same thing. There are also moments that don't feel like a typical education setting at all. From wellbeing activities to calm, flexible approaches to the day, we create an environment where young people can feel settled enough to take part. It's not a headline feature - it just reflects the kind of place this is. Alongside our centre-based provision, we run a Transition Support programme for young people with an EHCP who are not yet ready for that environment. This sits separately from our main delivery and is designed to help them move towards their next step at a pace that works for them. Most of the young people we work with are referred through schools, PRUs and SEND services. That means we're always balancing two things - creating an experience where young people feel understood, while also delivering something clear, structured and trusted by the professionals around them. We don't expect things to change overnight. We focus on helping things feel possible again - and building from there. Why work for New Meaning Training? Generous annual leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Up to 10 additional "gifted" days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
• Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
• Auto enrolment into The People's Pension
• 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
• Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
• Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
• Additional annual leave as a thank you for long service
• Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
Wellbeing benefits
• Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
• Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
Sustainable travel schemes
• Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
• Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
• Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
A supportive, values-led workplace
• Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
• Training and CPD supported as part of your role
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people's lives
How to Apply & Safeguarding To apply, please visit newmeaning.training/careers. To be considered for this role, you must fill in our mandatory online application form and attach a CV to complete your submission. New Meaning Training is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and adhere to our safeguarding and professional conduct policies.
• Checks: This post involves regulated activity and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check (including a Children's Barred List check) and satisfactory professional references.
• Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA): This role is exempt from the ROA 1974. Applicants must disclose all convictions and cautions that are not 'protected' under the Exceptions Order 1975 (as amended 2013 and 2020). For guidance on which offences are 'filtered' and do not need to be disclosed, please refer to the DBS filtering guide.
You will have:
• Experience working with young people
• Interest in community work, care or supporting others
• Experience with SEND/SEMH needs
• Calm, consistent approach
• Strong interpersonal skills
• L2 Maths & English
• Willingness to work towards L3
  
  Experience working with young people
• Interest in community work, care or supporting others
• Experience with SEND/SEMH needs
• Calm, consistent approach
• Strong interpersonal skills
• L2 Maths & English
• Willingness to work towards L3
  
  New Meaning Training offers education with a difference. We work with young people aged 15-25 who haven't always had a straightforward experience of education. Some have been misunderstood, some have disengaged, and some are still working out where they fit. What they find here is something steadier - a place where there's time to settle in, where expectations are clear, and where they're not judged on what's gone before.
We now operate across six centres in High Wycombe (our HQ), Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Reading, Stratford-upon-Avon and Nuneaton, supporting around 320 learners in the 2026-2027 academic year. Across all centres, we offer a growing range of "Introduction to" programmes, with several new courses launching this September. These courses - spanning areas such as Motor Mechanics, Construction, Hair & Beauty, Creative Arts, Computing, Sport, Retail and Hospitality - are designed to give young people the chance to try things out properly, build practical skills, and start to see what they might be good at. Everything is grounded in learning through doing, with a focus on making education feel possible from the start. Each of our centres has its own rhythm, but there's a shared way of working across the organisation. Teams are close-knit, supportive, and practical - people step in for each other, share ideas, and keep things moving on days that don't go to plan (which happens). There's a steady sense that everyone's working towards the same thing. There are also moments that don't feel like a typical education setting at all. From wellbeing activities to calm, flexible approaches to the day, we create an environment where young people can feel settled enough to take part. It's not a headline feature - it just reflects the kind of place this is. Alongside our centre-based provision, we run a Transition Support programme for young people with an EHCP who are not yet ready for that environment. This sits separately from our main delivery and is designed to help them move towards their next step at a pace that works for them.

Most of the young people we work with are referred through schools, PRUs and SEND services. That means we're always balancing two things - creating an experience where young people feel understood, while also delivering something clear, structured and trusted by the professionals around them. We don't expect things to change overnight. We focus on helping things feel possible again - and building from there. Why work for New Meaning Training? Generous annual leave
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Up to 10 additional "gifted" days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
• Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
• Auto enrolment into The People's Pension
• 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
• Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
• Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
• Additional annual leave as a thank you for long service
• Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
Wellbeing benefits
• Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
• Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
Sustainable travel schemes
• Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
• Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
• Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
A supportive, values-led workplace
• Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
• Training and CPD supported as part of your role
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people's lives