Sen learning support assistant jobs
Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.
As a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer, you’ll work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager and Networks for Nature project staff to engage and empower communities to make a real impact on conservation efforts and to improve access to nature. You will support with maintaining and establishing community relationships, supporting the development and delivery of a programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities and supporting in building the capacity of community groups, community leaders and other stakeholders within the Networks for Nature project area. You will deliver a broad range of activities, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Community Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing (GSP), GSP workshops for healthcare professionals and activity stands within community settings. You will also actively promote and develop community network links.
Due to the working rota of 10 days in 14 and working every other weekend, there will be some cross-over between the activities delivered within this role and the Community Volunteer Officer role.
We’re looking for someone who can:
• Activity Planning & Delivery: Help plan and run a broad programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities to community groups, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Conservation Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing (GSP), GSP workshops for healthcare professionals and activity stands at community events. Effectively adapting each activity to meet the needs of each group.
• Community Relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with community groups to support their continued participation in the project and commitment to creating habitats for UK Wildlife. Including administrative support, dealing with queries via email and telephone and attending meetings, consultations and networking events.
• Content Creation: Research and contribute to the development of resources and new engagement activities designed to support participation in the Networks for Nature project.
• Measuring Impact: Work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager to support in the delivery of an evaluation programme for the Networks for Nature project, including collection and collation of data from project participants, initial analysis of results and presenting findings to key stakeholders.
• Safety & Risk Assessments: With support from the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager, ensure that all activities are safe and appropriately risk assessed.
• Developing Expertise: Proactively develop own expertise as a conservation educator, focused on community engagement, UK wildlife and nature and wellbeing.
What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?
Well, where do we start? Here goes…
We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.
As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of nearly 500 permanent and 500 seasonal team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.
Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?
The Package
• Temporary contract until 30th September 2028
• 35 hours per week
• Salary £23,187.50
• The postholder will work 10 days over 14, working every other weekend and with two regular days off in the week
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%
Our Requirements:
• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Experience delivering educational and wellbeing focused activities with a range of different audiences across a variety of ages and needs, preferably within an environmental education or conservation focused organisation.
• Experience presenting to audiences.
• Experience developing quality resources for learning.
• Experience of delivering activities/training with a range of audiences.
• Sound working knowledge of computer software systems e.g. Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and literacy skills including by phone, face to face and via email/online discussion boards
• Excellent time management, administration and planning skills.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment as part of a team & on own initiative
• Full driving licence
Although not essential, the following would be desirable:
• Knowledge and understanding of the health and wellbeing benefits of accessing nature and the models used to deliver these benefits.
• Experience working with audiences with special educational needs and/or mental health challenges and/or socio economically deprived.
• Experience working collaboratively with community partners.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating engagement activities in a community context.
Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this post is subject to a DBS check.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Learning Support Assistant (LSA) – Autism / SEND
Ambitious About Autism is recruiting a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) to support autistic children and young people aged 4–19 at TreeHouse School (Ofsted Outstanding) specialist school in Muswell Hill.
- Full time, permanent (term time only)
- Hours: 8.45am – 4.35pm
- Salary: £26,638 – £28,005 per annum (paid across 52 weeks)
- Location: Muswell Hill, North London (N10 3JA)
- Start date: February 2026 (flexible depending on notice period)
Please note, this role may not meet Skilled Worker visa sponsorship criteria.
You will work 1:1 with autistic pupils, supporting them to access the curriculum while building independence, confidence, and self-esteem through classroom learning and community based activities. This role includes personal care.
This role is ideal for candidates with experience or interest in:
- SEN / SEND
- Autism
- Learning Support Assistant or Teaching Assistant roles
- Care, youth work, education, or psychology backgrounds
What we offer:
- Term time only working (paid across 52 weeks)
- Autism specific training and ongoing CPD
- Supportive leadership and a strong wellbeing culture
- Varied, meaningful work with real impact
- Full benefits package: please see our website
The official internal title for this role is Specialist Teaching Assistant, but it is advertised externally as Learning Support Assistant to reflect the nature of the role and maximise reach.
Ambitious About Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.
Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.
Ambitious About Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.
We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Abbey Community Centre is a vibrant, long-established community charity at the heart of Kilburn, North West London. Every day, we bring people together, reduce isolation and improve health and wellbeing through inclusive activities, services and community support.
We're now looking for an experienced Centre Operations Manager to play a key senior role in ensuring our busy community hub runs safely, smoothly and effectively for the thousands of people who use it each year.
About Abbey Community Centre
Abbey Community Centre works with people of all ages and backgrounds, with a particular focus on older residents and low-income families with young children. We deliver a wide range of activities, services and support including children’s stay-and-play sessions and drop-ins, fitness and wellbeing activities, befriending schemes, digital inclusion support, community meals, warm space provision, food support, volunteering opportunities and specialist outreach.
Alongside this community delivery, we manage a busy public building and a programme of room hire that helps generate income to sustain our work. With a small staff team, over 100 volunteers and many partner organisations, our operations need to be reliable, well-coordinated and people-centred.
The role and its impact
As Centre Operations Manager, you will be the organisation’s senior operational lead on the ground. Working closely with the CEO, you will hold delegated authority for the day-to-day running of the Centre — ensuring the building, people and systems all work together to support high-quality community activity.
This is a hands-on leadership role combining practical problem-solving with people management. You will line manage and help develop operational staff, oversee facilities and contractors, lead on health and safety and operational compliance, support volunteering, and ensure organisational systems and processes function reliably.
Your work will directly enable staff, volunteers and partners to deliver activities and services safely and confidently, and will help ensure Abbey remains a welcoming, accessible and well-run space for the local community.
What you’ll be working on
In this role, you will:
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Oversee daily building operations, maintenance and contractor management
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Lead on health & safety and related compliance, including risk assessments and training
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Line manage & develop operational staff and support a positive, consistent working culture
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Ensure operational policies and procedures are applied effectively in practice
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Support and coordinate volunteering within the centre
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Manage operational budgets and contracts within agreed limits
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Act as a senior member of the management team, deputising for the CEO on agreed matters
Key details
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Location: Abbey Community Centre, Kilburn (NW6 4BJ, London Borough of Camden)
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Hours: 24–28 hours per week (fixed hours agreed at appointment), worked over a minimum of four weekdays
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Core hours: 11.00am–4.00pm (flexibility outside these hours by agreement)
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Contract: Permanent, part-time
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Salary: £40,000–£42,000 per annum (based on a 35-hour full-time equivalent), pro rata for part-time hours
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Annual leave: 30 days pro-rata, rising to 35 days after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays, pro-rata)
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Pension: NEST pension scheme (if eligible)
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Some evening and occasional weekend working is required
This role could be right for you if…
You are an experienced operational manager who enjoys combining leadership with practical delivery, thrives in a public-facing environment, and wants your work to make a visible difference to a local community. You don’t need to tick every box — we’re interested in your experience, judgement, approach and motivation.
Abbey Community Centre is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be offered throughout the recruitment process.
To reduce poverty and isolation and improve health, wellbeing and connection through inclusive community activities, services and support.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.