Aim
To develop an understanding of the learning support role in your setting and the unique role LSAs play in supporting learner achievement.
Learning Points
LSAs collaborate with other staff to address learners’ needs holistically. An LSA is part of a team of staff who collectively meet the needs of the young person.
Each team member plays a distinct role in supporting learners with diverse needs. Each staff member has one or more different primary functions (e.g. tutor to teach; support worker to meet personal care needs).
LSAs empower learners to actively engage in and progress their learning. The primary function of the LSA is to support learners to access, engage and make progress in their learning, and become increasingly independent learners.
LSAs promote self-reliance and independence in learners with diverse needs. LSAs do not simply ‘help’ learners or complete tasks for them.
Specialist FE settings offer diverse support roles, each tailored to learners’ individual needs. There are different support roles in specialist FE settings, each providing different types of support; learning support (enabling access to and engagement with learning) is different from personal support (supporting personal care needs such as feeding, toileting), although one support worker can offer both types of support.
Effective communication between LSAs and tutors will lead to more effective learning. An LSA works in close partnership with tutors who direct their work, sharing session plans, learner targets etc., so that the LSA can support learners to participate as fully as possible in their learning.
