EducationISCO 2352
Learning support teacher
Learning support teachers assist students who have general learning difficulties. Learning support teachers focus on basic skills such as numeracy and literacy and thus teach basic subjects such as writing, reading, math and languages and they work for an educational institution such as a primary or secondary school. They support students in their school work, plan learning strategies, identify their learning needs and progress, and act accordingly. They can work in various educational set-ups and act as support for other teachers or manage their own class.
Check yourself in a minute: learning support teacher
Rate 5 of the 21 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
prepare lesson content
liaise with educational support staff
show consideration for student's situation
adapt teaching to student's capabilities
provide learning support
About learning support teacher
As a learning support teacher, you will work with students who have general learning difficulties, providing tailored instruction in fundamental subjects such as literacy, numeracy, reading, writing, and languages. You will assess individual learning needs, adapt your teaching strategies to match each student's capabilities and learning style, and create supportive learning environments where students can build confidence. Whether you work as a dedicated support staff member or manage your own classroom, you will collaborate closely with educational professionals to coordinate support, monitor student progress, and celebrate achievements. Your role is vital in helping students overcome obstacles and develop the foundational skills they need for academic success.
Key Work Functions
Core areas of responsibility for a learning support teacher.
1
Student Assessment and Needs Identification
- Conduct assessment processes to identify learning difficulties and individual learning needs
- Assess students' current proficiency levels in literacy, numeracy, and language skills
- Monitor student progress throughout the school year and adjust support accordingly
2
Lesson Planning and Content Development
- Prepare lesson content aligned with curriculum objectives and adapted to students' learning capabilities
- Design learning strategies tailored to individual student needs and learning styles
- Provide lesson materials and resources that support learning across different ability levels
3
Inclusive Teaching and Instruction
- Adapt teaching methods and content to match each student's capabilities and learning pace
- Demonstrate concepts and techniques when teaching to support visual and hands-on learners
- Apply intercultural teaching strategies to support diverse student populations
- Show consideration for students' personal situations and adapt instruction accordingly
4
Student Support and Tutoring
- Tutor students in basic subjects including reading, writing, mathematics, and languages
- Provide learning support and guidance to help students overcome academic challenges
- Assist students in developing effective study habits and learning techniques
5
Communication and Collaboration
- Communicate effectively with students using age-appropriate language and tone
- Liaise with educational support staff and teachers to coordinate support and share progress updates
- Give constructive feedback to students to encourage progress and build confidence
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (21)
assessment processesassessment processesVarious evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, sum...learning difficultieslearning difficultiesThe learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.curriculum objectivescurriculum objectivesThe goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.prepare lesson contentprepare lesson contentPrepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.liaise with educational support staffliaise with educational support staffCommunicate with education management, such as the school principal and board members, and with the education support team such as the teaching assistant, school counsellor or academic advisor on issu...show consideration for student's situationshow consideration for student's situationTake students' personal backgrounds into consideration when teaching, showing empathy and respect.adapt teaching to student's capabilitiesadapt teaching to student's capabilitiesIdentify the learning struggles and successes of students. Select teaching and learning strategies that support students’ individual learning needs and goals.provide learning supportprovide learning supportProvide the necessary support to students with general learning difficulties in literacy and numeracy to facilitate learning by assessing the learner’s development needs and preferences. Design formal...assess studentsassess studentsEvaluate the students' (academic) progress, achievements, course knowledge and skills through assignments, tests, and examinations. Diagnose their needs and track their progress, strengths, and weakne...identify education needsidentify education needsIdentify the needs of students, organisations and companies in terms of provision of education in order to aid in the development of curricula and education policies.adapt teaching to target groupadapt teaching to target groupInstruct students in the most fitting manner in regards to the teaching context or the age group, such as a formal versus an informal teaching context, and teaching peers as opposed to children.demonstrate when teachingdemonstrate when teachingPresent to others examples of your experience, skills, and competences that are appropriate to specific learning content to help students in their learning.provide lesson materialsprovide lesson materialsEnsure that the necessary materials for teaching a class, such as visual aids, are prepared, up-to-date, and present in the instruction space.assist students in their learningassist students in their learningSupport and coach students in their work, give learners practical support and encouragement.apply intercultural teaching strategiesapply intercultural teaching strategiesEnsure that the content, methods, materials and the general learning experience is inclusive for all students and takes into account the expectations and experiences of learners from diverse cultural ...liaise with educational staffliaise with educational staffCommunicate with the school staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, academic advisors, and the principal on issues relating to students' well-being. In the context of a university, liaise with th...apply teaching strategiesapply teaching strategiesEmploy various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating argument...encourage students to acknowledge their achievementsencourage students to acknowledge their achievementsStimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.communicate with youthcommunicate with youthUse verbal and non-verbal communication and communicate through writing, electronic means, or drawing. Adapt your communication to children and young people`s age, needs, characteristics, abilities, p...give constructive feedbackgive constructive feedbackProvide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evalu...tutor studentstutor studentsProvide private, supplementary instruction to students individually to enhance their learning. Support and mentor students who struggle with a certain subject or who have learning difficulties.
Optional (33) — show
school psychologyschool psychologyThe study of human behaviour and performance with respect to various school processes, the learning needs of young individuals, and the psychological tests accompanying this field of study.primary school proceduresprimary school proceduresThe inner workings of a primary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.language teaching methodslanguage teaching methodsThe techniques used to teach students a foreign language, such as audio-lingual, communicative language teaching (CLT), and immersion.behavioural disordersbehavioural disordersThe often emotionally disruptive types of behaviour a child or adult can show, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).teamwork principlesteamwork principlesThe cooperation between people characterised by a unified commitment to achieving a given goal, participating equally, maintaining open communication, facilitating effective usage of ideas etc.spellingspellingThe rules concerning the way words are spelled.secondary school proceduressecondary school proceduresThe inner workings of a secondary school, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.grammargrammarThe set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.special needs educationspecial needs educationThe teaching methods, equipment and settings used to support students with special needs in achieving succes in school or community.assist in the organisation of school eventsassist in the organisation of school eventsProvide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school's open house day, a sports game or a talent show.identify learning disordersidentify learning disordersObserve and detect symptoms of Specific Learning Difficulties such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia, and dysgraphia in children or adult learners. Refer the student to t...facilitate teamwork between studentsfacilitate teamwork between studentsEncourage students to cooperate with others in their learning by working in teams, for example through group activities.assess the development of youthassess the development of youthEvaluate the different aspects of development needs of children and young people.construct individual learning plansconstruct individual learning plansSet up, in collaboration with the student, an individual learning plan (ILP), tailored to the student's specific learning needs, taking into account the student's weaknesses and strengths.teach reading strategiesteach reading strategiesInstruct students in the practice of discerning and understanding written communication. Use different materials and contexts when teaching. Assist in the development of reading strategies suitable fo...recognise indicators of gifted studentrecognise indicators of gifted studentObserve students during instruction and identify signs of exceptionally high intelligence in a student, such as showing remarkable intellectual curiosity or showing restlessness due to boredom and or ...escort students on a field tripescort students on a field tripAccompany students on an educational trip outside the school environment and ensure their safety and cooperation.apply pre-teaching methodsapply pre-teaching methodsTeach the content of an upcoming lesson in advance to an individual or a small group of students with learning difficulties, explaining the core issues and using repetition with the goal of improving ...arrange parent teacher meetingarrange parent teacher meetingSet up joined and individual meetings with students' parents to discuss their child's academic progress and general well-being.teach mathematicsteach mathematicsInstruct students in the theory and practice of quantities, structures, shapes, patterns, and geometry.assist students with equipmentassist students with equipmentProvide assistance to students when working with (technical) equipment used in practice-based lessons and solve operational problems when necessary.manage resources for educational purposesmanage resources for educational purposesIdentify the necessary resources needed for learning purposes, such as materials in class or arranged transportation for a field trip. Apply for the corresponding budget and follow up on the orders.provide teacher supportprovide teacher supportAssist teachers in classroom instruction by providing and preparing lesson materials, monitoring the students during their work and helping them in their learning where necessary.use learning strategiesuse learning strategiesUse different channels of perception, learning styles, strategies and methods to acquire knowledge, know-how, skills and competences.keep records of attendancekeep records of attendanceKeep track of the pupils who are absent by recording their names on a list of absentees.teach languagesteach languagesInstruct students in the theory and practice of a language. Use a wide range of teaching and learning techniques to promote proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in that language.perform playground surveillanceperform playground surveillanceObserve students' recreational activities to ensure student safety and well-being and intervene when necessary.assist children with special needs in education settingsassist children with special needs in education settingsAssist children with special needs, identifying their needs, modifying classroom equipment to accommodate them and helping them participate in school activities.oversee extra-curricular activitiesoversee extra-curricular activitiesSupervise and potentially organise educational or recreational activities for the students outside of mandatory classes.maintain relations with children's parentsmaintain relations with children's parentsInform children`s parents of the activities planned, program`s expectations and children`s individual progress.counsel studentscounsel studentsProvide assistance to students with educational, career-related or personal issues such as course selection, school adjustment en social integration, career exploration and planning, and family proble...mathematicsmathematicsMathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to pr...support gifted studentssupport gifted studentsAssist students showing great academic promise or with an unusually high IQ with their learning processes and challenges. Set up an individual learning plan catered to their needs.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a learning support teacher do?
Learning support teachers assist students who have general learning difficulties. Learning support teachers focus on basic skills such as numeracy and literacy and thus teach basic subjects such as writing, reading, math and languages and they work for an educational institution such as a primary or secondary school. They support students in their school work, plan learning strategies, identify their learning needs and progress, and act accordingly. They can work in various educational set-ups and act as support for other teachers or manage their own class.
What skills does a learning support teacher need?
A learning support teacher needs 21 essential skills, including assessment processes, learning difficulties, curriculum objectives, prepare lesson content, liaise with educational support staff.
Will AI replace learning support teacher jobs?
The AI disruption score for learning support teacher is 13/100 (very low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: spelling, grammar, keep records of attendance. Most resilient: escort students on a field trip, show consideration for student's situation, encourage students to acknowledge their achievements.
AI Replacement Risk
13/ 100
Very Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
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