ESOL - Learning Support Assistant in North Secondary School

To support EAL/ESOL students so they can:

• Develop English language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing)

• Access the secondary school curriculum

• Build confidence, independence, and social integration

• Support students during mainstream lessons (e.g. English, Maths, Science)

• Clarify teacher instructions using simplified language, visuals, or modelling

• Pre-teach or reinforce key vocabulary and subject-specific language

• Check understanding and encourage participation

• Support note-taking, reading tasks, and written work

• Help students develop:

  • Academic English (subject language, exam vocabulary)

  • Social English (everyday communication)

• Support speaking and listening through discussion, questioning, and modelling

• Assist with reading comprehension and writing structure

• Work with individuals or small groups outside the classroom

• Deliver targeted ESOL interventions planned by the teacher or EAL coordinator

• Support newly arrived students or those at early stages of English acquisition

• Help students feel safe, included, and confident in school

• Support social integration with peers

• Be aware of cultural differences and sensitivities

• Offer emotional reassurance, especially for newly arrived pupils or refugees

• Work closely with:

  • Class teachers

  • SENCO and EAL coordinator

  • Pastoral staff

• Share observations about student progress and challenges

• Support assessment of English proficiency where required

• Help students understand assessment tasks and expectations

• Support preparation for tests and exams (without giving answers)

• Monitor progress in English development and report back to teachers

• Clear, patient communication

• Strong English language skills

• Understanding of EAL/ESOL strategies (scaffolding, visuals, modelling)

• Cultural awareness and empathy

• Ability to encourage independence (not over-support)

• Teamwork and flexibility

• Visual aids, diagrams, and real objects

• Sentence starters and writing frames

• Key vocabulary lists and glossaries

• Chunking instructions

• Modelling answers and thinking aloud

• Use of first language where appropriate (if allowed by school policy)