Primary Learning Mentor - can you tell me more about the role?

[SarfEast1cated]

Hello staffroom, hope you don't mind me posting here, I have brought biscuits...


I am currently studying for a degree in Education Studies with one more year to go, with a view to then doing a primary PGCE. In addition to my study, I also organise both a reading and a numeracy partners scheme through my permanent job. We read with individual children, and play maths games with groups of children. I am also a director of a breakfast and afterschool club, and volunteer to work with the children when I can.

I have seen this job* advertised it looks exactly what I'd love to do. But the question is am I the kind of person they would want? I assume they will want tangible proven skills, and I wonder if my voluntary work would be enough...

What do you think? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

*We are looking for an enthusiastic and caring individual, with experience of working with primary aged children within an educational environment.

Our Learning Mentor will be expected to provide support and guidance to primary children and those engaged with them, by removing barriers to learning in order to promote effective participation, enhance individual learning, raise aspirations and achieve their potential. Also to implement strategies to manage attendance and punctuality of Primary children. All staff offer pastoral support to children.

Individuals will ideally be knowledgeable about Primary education and be able to offer a broad range of skills, abilities and attributes appropriate to the emotional and behavioural needs of primary aged children.

Individuals will be enthusiastic, have excellent communication skills, good numeracy and literacy skills, be able to work flexibly and as part of a team and build positive relationships with children and staff alike. Individuals will also be able to demonstrate initiative and be sensitive to the needs of children.

[SarfEast1cated]

I have Jaffa cakes too - and wine...

[ilikebaking]

You do sound like a good candidate.
Do you have actual experience of the barriers that children face to learning and an awareness of measures that can be put in place to support this?
Do you know of behaviour interventions? 5 point scale, SEAL etc?

[SarfEast1cated]

Urm - in a word - no. I can do some pretty fast research on the subjects, but no actual experience. The children I have worked with reading have had their own learning challenges, and I have been able to use some of the theory of learning (Piaget and Vygotsky) I have studied to enrich the experience, but nothing I could swear to in the interview.
I think I have the personal attributes they ask for, but maybe not the practical skills yet.

[ilikebaking]

You sound brilliant- go for it.
Like you say, anything you need you can learn and you have the personal skills and can build on the rest. You can PM me if you want, I have very personal experiece employing for this role.

[BasinHaircut]

I have a friend who is a learning mentor and your voluntary work sounds like a huge part of what she gets paid for.

I'd go for it, you have nothing to lose.

[SarfEast1cated]

So pleased to read your post ilikebaking as I sent the application off at 5.30 and was wondering whether I stood a chance. I feel more positive now :)
If I get an interview I will pm you if that's ok?
Thanks again

[SarfEast1cated]

Thanks to you too basin

[SarfEast1cated]

I'm watching 'the nurture room' in preparation

[ilikebaking]

Thats fine.
Whats the nurture room? Sounds like something I should know about :$

[SarfEast1cated]

It was a Channel 4 programme I watched in 2010:
Have a mindreel.org.uk/video/nurture-room watch and see what you think, looks amazing, and the teachers are so caring and patient. I found it really inspiring.

[ilikebaking]

Oh, I havent seen it, but I am aware of the majority of the nurture principles.
If you can mention those in interview- that would be good. Also mention barriers to learning, and how they can be overcome etc.

[SarfEast1cated]

Hi there Ilikebaking do you have any books on the subject, or other resources that you could recommend? I have access to the Institute of Education library, but there's a lot to chose from!

[SarfEast1cated]

No interview, sadly, but not too surprised considering I have no class room experience. I am just about to apply for a PGCE, and am hoping for some advice. I would really like to concentrate on literacy, and maybe be a literacy co-ordinator. Do you actually need to be a class teacher to do that? Seeing this Primary Learning Mentor role has made me think that there may be other positions in schools I could consider.
I am in my late forties and coming to teaching late. I'm beginning to worry that I'm too old to be accepted onto the PGCE...
Any suggestions/advice?

[JOEYDOESNTSHAREFOOD]

Literacy co-ordinator is a role given to teachers for their TLR payment.

[JOEYDOESNTSHAREFOOD]

You're not too old for a PGCE placement, but I think you'll need more classroom experience.

[Lowdoorinthewall]

Literacy co-ordinator is a promoted teaching post. It is often the first whole school responsibility (or Maths co-ordinator) that a teacher will take on the pathway into leadership.

I think you would probably be best off looking for a TA position. This will give you really good experience before starting your PGCE. Positions such as Learning Mentor or ELSA tend to be based out of class so you would not gain as much experience of class management and teaching and learning, both of which you will need when you start teaching practise.