Learning Mentor

Closing date: 31 May 2026

Salary: Grade 12, ranging from £28,598 - £32,061 per annum.

Are you ready to make a real difference in Somerset? Join us on a mission to transform lives!

The Virtual School is committed to ensuring all Somerset Children and Young People with acute needs and additional vulnerability, including our Children Looked After, enjoy education and achieve good outcomes that prepares them well for adulthood.  

We are not a virtual or online school. As a Learning Mentor, you will work directly with existing education settings, playing a key role in promoting positive educational outcomes and supporting post-16 transitions. This includes those with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those who are NEET or at risk of NEET. Your role is central to fostering engagement, removing barriers, and helping each young person reach their full potential and prepare for adulthood.

Role summary

The Learning Mentor supports improved educational outcomes and positive engagement for Children Looked After, Previously Looked After Children, and pupils with SEND or English as an additional language.

Working under the guidance of the Inclusion Lead, the role involves monitoring progress and attendance, managing key information, and supporting effective transitions within education settings.

You will work closely with schools, families, locality teams and partner agencies to plan and deliver targeted interventions in line with the Somerset Graduated Response, helping to remove barriers to learning and build pupils’ confidence in mainstream education.

The Learning Mentor also contributes to statutory and non‑statutory processes, including PEP and TAC meetings, ensuring pupils can access appropriate learning and future opportunities and develop the skills they need to thrive.

What you’ll do - key responsibilities:

• Work with education settings to improve attendance, engagement and outcomes for children and young people, including supporting transitions between provisions.
• Collaborate with schools, local teams and professionals to develop and deliver effective support and intervention plans in line with the Somerset Graduated Response, including making funding decisions where appropriate.
• Plan, deliver and review support to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of Children Looked After (CLA), Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) and children and young people with SEND or English as an Additional Language (EAL), supporting successful engagement in mainstream learning.
• Support education providers to meet the educational and vocational needs of CLA and PLAC, ensuring children and young people are aware of, and can access, wider learning and development opportunities.
• Work closely with families and professionals to remove barriers to learning and ensure support plans are implemented effectively.
• Attend and contribute to PEP, TAC and TAF meetings, providing clear reports on progress, needs and next steps.
• Monitor, record and track attendance, progress and outcomes using council systems, producing reports and highlighting risks or concerns.
• Contribute to projects and initiatives that improve education outcomes for children and young people.
• Work in line with statutory guidance, council policies and values, including safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Take part in team meetings, training and relevant administrative activity as required.

What we’re looking for – knowledge, experience & skills

Essential

• Be educated to GCSE Level/ Level 4 including English and Maths and hold at least NVQ Level 4/5 standard or equivalent. 
• Knowledge of a range of educational settings and the challenges faced by pupils, including vulnerable groups
• Knowledge of statutory responsibilities relating to children and education
• Knowledge of data protection requirements and handling sensitive information
• Experience of working in an educational, children’s services or similar setting
• Experience of working with children or young people from diverse backgrounds
• Experience of recording and managing information on information systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organisational skills to manage information and track progress
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
• Sound decision-making skills and ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with professionals and partners
• Ability to build and maintain confidential and sensitive relationships
• Willingness to challenge to ensure fair access to appropriate learning opportunities
• Ability to travel across the county

Desirable

• A Relevant qualification or training in education, child development, or a related field. 
• Professional development courses related to educational support and intervention strategies.
• Knowledge of intervention strategies and support planning for academic, social and emotional needs
• Awareness of educational and vocational pathways available to young people
• Knowledge of the local area
• Experience of supporting or facilitating transitions between educational settings
• Skills in using management information systems and other corporate systems

Additional Information:

• Permanent contract - 37 hours per week, part time also available.
• This is a frontline, caseload‑based role working directly with education settings and families.
• Hybrid Working, with a balance of home, locality and office-based working.
• 28 day’s annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship
• Interviews have been planned for 11 June 2026.

For an informal discussion about the role, you can contact Judy Hills, Inclusion Lead - Preparing for Adulthood, Virtual School, via Judy.Hills@somerset.gov.uk.

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.