Staff Stories – Learning Support Assistant to Student Manager
Leann started at Preston College in 2011 as a member of the support team. Working as ‘bank staff’ Leann could fit working around her family and had flexibility on the number of hours she worked. Leann used her experience to progress from bank staff to a permanent member of the support team, to a Learning Support Coach and most recently progressing into the role of Student Manager.
Leann explains:
“As a single parent, I wanted a job that would fit around my schedule and working as bank staff gave me loads of flexibility. The role was term-time as well, so it fit around the school holidays when childcare can be a challenge. As my daughter got older, I was able to take on more hours and ultimately became a full-time member of staff as a Learning Support Assistant.”
Learning Support Assistants provide learning support for students with identified needs on a one-to-one basis in and outside the classroom. At Preston College there is a large team who can support you settle in and teach you the tips and techniques for supporting students and how to break down information to help the students understand it. It is an incredibly important role and very rewarding.
Leann says:
“Every day was different, one day you would be supporting learners in the construction building learning how to lay bricks and build walls, the next day you’d be in performing arts helping students rehearse for a show.
As a Learning Support Assistant, you listen to the teacher and absorb the information, then you help the students in the class to break it down and understand it. I learnt so much!
People think that you are assigned a student and you stay with them throughout the day, but actually you are assigned a lesson and you go and help anyone that needs it. You get to learn the subject and, you get to learn in-class strategies and the signs that someone needs help with something. It is incredibly rewarding to see the learners achieve and know that you have made a difference.
Being a Learning Support Assistant gave me new skills and experiences that I could use to progress my career. I applied for the Learning Support Coach at Preston College and I was successful, this then led on to the Student Manager role. Things that I learnt as a Learning Support Assistant have come in handy in my current role, such as understanding factors that affect learner attendance, retention, achievement and progression.”
Preston College is a great place to work, the people are friendly and the support team is like a big family. I’ve learnt so much and found a career that I love, which wouldn’t have been possible without taking that first job as a Learning Support Assistant.”
We’re Hiring!
Preston College has generous terms and conditions and an excellent benefits package that is intended to attract, motivate, and retain the best people to help drive the College forward. We are recognised as disability confidence employer, accredited as ‘Gold’ for Investors in People and have a range of family friendly college policies including special leave, career break, job share and flexible working (role dependent).
For the latest job opportunities visit our College Vacancies page
