Learning mentor

Learning mentor job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Learning mentors work on a group or one-to-one basis with children of all ages.

Typical responsibilities include:

• working with school staff to select pupils for mentoring
• discussing the aims of mentoring with pupils
• supporting under-performing pupils outside of the classroom
• agreeing and writing action plans
• making home visits to talk to parents about issues and to offer advice about strategies to deal with problems
• liaising with schools, teachers, social workers and educational psychologists and making referrals where appropriate
• organising and running drop-in sessions and music and sports events for pupils
• aiding pupils with the transition to secondary education
• helping pupils to improve confidence and self-esteem by listening to them and devising appropriate strategies.

Funding for their posts comes from central government via the 'EiC package for school improvement'.

Typical employers of learning mentors

Learning mentors work for UK primary and secondary schools (and increasingly colleges) and as such are answerable to school and college heads for their day-to-day work.

Prior mentoring experience is essential, as is experience gained working with young people. Voluntary mentoring schemes are organised by many universities and some local authorities. Paid job vacancies are advertised in newspapers, via the internet and in local authority jobs bulletins.

Qualifications and training required

It can be helpful to have a degree or HND in psychology or social science, or a national curriculum subject – particularly English or maths. Candidates will have to pass a CRB check in order to work with children.

Key skills for learning mentors

• maturity
• interpersonal skills
• listening skills
• organisational skills
• problem-solving skills
• communication skills
• assertiveness
• resilience
• a non-prejudicial manner.