Learning Mentor

A Learning Mentor is a relatively new concept in the field of education and is an individual who will spend time assisting those children who are under achieving at their school work. They can work with a great many children but pay particular attention to those children who may come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, who have learning difficulties or who are behaviourally dysfunctional.

Primarily, learning mentors are required to attend to the needs of children in the school environment but this can overlap into family life and the local community.

What Does a Learning Mentor Do?

Working mostly on a one to one level or in small numbered groups, a learning mentor must possess the following necessary skills.

• Be a good listener
• Be able to encourage and motivate
• Act as a role model and encourage the build up of a mutually respectful relationship

A learning mentor will be required during the course of his or her work to:

• Identify those children who would benefit from one-to-one tutoring
• Attempt to find out the reasons behind a child’s underachievement
• Keep detailed records of attendance and punctuality
• Consult with parents as to the reasons for underachievement
• Draw up action plans for study and revision
• Assist with confidence-building exercises

In addition to these learning mentors may also be involved in after school activities and clubs where they can see for themselves how children under their supervision interact with those around them on a more social scale.

They are also required to liase with parents and teachers alike and provide them with updates on the performance of those pupils who are under their supervision.

It is important to note at this juncture that classroom assistants and learning mentors are very different and that learning mentors have a more hands on approach to the teaching of the children under their care.

Becoming a Learning Mentor

It is possible to become a learning mentor without academic qualifications but having national curriculum examinations and/or a degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) can prove very useful. With or without these qualifications an individual wishing to become a learning mentor must show:

• Excellent communications skills
• Problem solving skills
• The ability to work on one’s own

Learning mentors work closely with Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and senior teaching staff in order to provide the necessary levels of care and attention needed to assist these underachieving children reach their learning potential and also to come up with new and exciting ways of providing these children with the help needed.

They will also work in close conjunction with Social and Youth Services, the Educational Welfare Service, the Probation and Careers Services in order to provide as much help and support as is possible.

As the concept of learning mentors is becoming more and more acceptable within the school environment many Local Education Authorities (LEAs) are embracing the idea and are actively seeking to employ them in their schools.

In addition to the aforementioned duties learning mentors are now being tasked with the formation of peer mentoring groups, student councils and networks of parent/carer support.

If you wish to become a learning mentor you should contact your local education authority or council and ask for details of their learning mentor schemes. Likewise if you have a child already in education contact their school and speak to the headteacher who will be able to give you advice and support.