Why I Love My Job as an LSA

Working as a learning support assistant, or LSA, is a great way to enjoy the challenging environment of working with children in a school, without having to deal with all of the hassles that go with being a fully qualified teacher. Although some LSAs aim to continue their professional training to become teachers, for many it offers a flexible long-term career option.
Enjoying the School Environment
For Emma Drury, 29, from Norwich, working as an LSA gives her the perfect work/life balance. She explained, “After I finished my A Levels I couldn’t decide whether or not I wanted to go to university, so I took a year out and starting working. I initially thought I wanted to work in an office environment, so I worked as a junior in a local solicitor’s office, but I really didn’t enjoy the atmosphere or the administrative nature of the job – I found it too restrictive to have to be behind a desk all day! After about nine months I was looking through the jobs on the local council’s recruitment page in the newspaper and a learning support assistant advert caught my eye.”Emma continued, “I’d done work experience in a primary school a couple of years earlier and while I enjoyed the school environment, I actually found it frustrating dealing with young children. I know that probably doesn’t sound very good, but I have to say it put me off working as a teacher! But the job I saw advertised was in a local high school – not the one I went too luckily! – and was working with pupils aged from 13 – 15 that needed one to one support. I decided to apply for it and I was asked to attend an interview.”
Emma was able to perform well in her interview as she could talk about her experiences during work experience and her knowledge of the work place from the solicitors. She explained, “I was careful not to focus too much on what I didn’t want to do, and made sure I said how much I wanted to work with young people. A core aspect of the job is to be an appropriate interface between the pupils and the teachers, sort of like an older sister role, in order to support them in lessons without making them feel uncomfortable. I think my understanding of the purpose of an LSA helped my interview go smoothly, and I was offered to job after another interview and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.”
Re: Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer
Hello Iam a Ugandan female and would love to volunteer with kids with special needs iam committed and ready for all to see…
Re: Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer
Hi my name is Rachael and im a mum to 4 children of which two have disabilities one more than the other. My son has…
Re: Do Foreign Children Have a Right to A Classroom Assistant?
I would like to know what gcse options i need to take as a gcse(s) to be able to work at my…
Re: How Do I Start my Career as a Family Support Worker?
I have a level 3 in health and social care I've recently been helping a friend to regain contact…
Re: Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer
Hiya I'm a 17 yo female who suffers from tourettes and I would love to help other children with learning disabilities…
Re: Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer
Hi, I did my master degree in special education 14 years back. Now want to persue my career in this field after a long…
Re: Classroom Assistant
My basic qualification is M.Sc with Chemistry and I have done Bachelor in Education. I have Experience of all three level of students that is…
Re: Classroom Assistant
Hi. I have a great experience of teaching in my home country India of. In UK I am doing a research course on education. As I am a teacher…
Re: Becoming a Special Needs Volunteer
hi. i am looking to volunteer with children with special needs in and around the Dartford area. i have always enjoyed…
Re: Voluntary Work in Schools
Hello, I am looking for a volunteer opportunity with in the education sector and wanted to know if you had any roles that I could part…