Congratulations! You've just joined one, or are considering joining, of the most exciting, valued and fast developing roles within educational support.

Your work will make a great difference to the lives, experiences and learning of many pupils. You'll be a key part of overall school and area support provision, linking with a range of other support agencies, and working closely with teachers to ensure that youngsters on your caseload have a better chance of achieving to their potential.

What do Learning Mentors do?

Learning Mentors work in schools and colleges through providing planned support to targeted pupils and students with the broad aim of identifying and tackling barriers to learning thus transforming attitudes towards school and college, the ability of pupils and students to cope with the challenges that they face, and ultimately their ability to achieve their true potential. Their links with pastoral and learning support in schools/colleges contribute to the freeing up of teachers to teach, and make significant impacts on individual and whole school/college achievement.

Their work typically takes the form of regular one-to-one and group sessions with pupils identified as requiring help, during which the learning mentor and pupil will agree targets and strategies (related, for example, to academic work, attendance, behaviour, realtionships and learning). Learning Mentors also undertake a range of other duties related to improving the achievement of identified pupils.

Learning Mentors will typically form a relationship with the pupil, school staff and parents or carers in order to improve the pupil's engagement with learning and ensure that they achieve appropriately.

National definition of the role

The Functional Map for Learning Mentor Provision provides the nationally agreed "blueprint" for the role. It was developed as part of the construction of the National Occupational Standards for Learning, Development and Support Services... and places your work at the heart of the Government's Every Child Matters Agenda in our schools and colleges.

What training is available?

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) endorsed Induction Training programme is available for all newly apppointed Learning Mentors, or those currently working in a voluntary capacity.   Details are provided on the training and induction pages, where you'll find information about national accredited qualifications too.  Contact your line manager or area co-ordinator for more information - or point them towards the relevant training pages on this site if necessary as some may not be aware of what is available.

National recognised pre entry training is not provided, though local providers may run courses relevant to the needs of aspiring learning mentors.  Please check out your local colleges and learning providers for more information.  These would include level 1 or 2 mentoring courses, educational coaching and related areas such as counselling and guidance.

Learning Mentor Practice Guide

The Learning Mentor Practice Guide provides a useful starting point for your reading, and we hope that the CWDC endorsed Induction Training Programme helps you on your way to becoming an incredibly effective member of your school or college team.  This will be replaced by an up to date publication in April 2007.