Learning Mentor
Support pupils with barriers to learning — emotional, social, or practical — as a school-based non-teaching professional, helping children and young people to engage with education and reach their potential.
Low
High
Entry possible with relevant Level 3 qualification and experience with children; many learning mentors begin as teaching assistants or in youth work; direct entry for candidates with strong personal and professional experience
No mandatory qualification, but Level 3 or Level 4 qualification in supporting learning, teaching assistant practice, youth work, or counselling skills is standard. Training in safeguarding, mental health first aid, and SEMH awareness expected. Some schools require or fund NVQ/NCFE in Education and Training or Supporting Teaching and Learning.
What you do
Learning mentors work in schools — primary, secondary, and special schools — providing targeted support to pupils whose learning is being affected by personal, social, emotional, or practical barriers. These barriers may include family difficulties, bereavement, domestic abuse, mental health concerns, transitions, bullying, attendance problems, low self-esteem, or difficulties with social and emotional skills. Learning mentors provide a trusted, consistent adult relationship for vulnerable pupils, offering one-to-one mentoring sessions, group programmes, and in-class support.
You work with pupils to identify barriers, agree support plans, set achievable goals, and build skills including self-regulation, problem-solving, and social communication. You liaise with class teachers, SENCOs, parents, social workers, and external agencies (CAMHS, family support services), contribute to pastoral reviews and TAF (Team Around the Family) meetings, and maintain records of support provided. Learning mentors are not qualified teachers — they provide pastoral and emotional support rather than curriculum instruction, although the boundaries are not always clear in practice. They may co-deliver social and emotional learning (SEL) programmes, run lunchtime and after-school support groups, and contribute to whole-school pastoral approaches. Some learning mentors specialise in specific areas: looked-after children, exclusion prevention, transition support, or wellbeing. Entry does not require a teaching qualification but relevant experience with children and young people is essential.
Why this career is resilient
Schools' responsibility for pupil wellbeing, attendance, and pastoral care is not diminishing — rising rates of pupil anxiety, post-pandemic attendance difficulties, and SEND identification create sustained demand for non-teaching pastoral support staff. The inclusion agenda and the requirement to support pupils with diverse social, emotional, and mental health needs (SEMH) within mainstream schooling sustains learning mentor roles across all school types.
Learning mentors fill a gap between teaching and specialist CAMHS or social care support — a gap that is particularly wide given CAMHS waiting lists. Schools increasingly employ learning mentors as part of pastoral teams alongside counsellors, mental health leads, and family liaison officers. The role is stable, locally rooted, and school-hours-friendly, making it attractive to parents and those seeking predictable working patterns.
A typical day
Morning: one-to-one mentoring session with a Year 8 pupil whose attendance has dropped following a family crisis — agree a reduced return-to-school plan with the SENCO and home-school link worker. Support a Year 6 pupil with anxiety around SATs — relaxation strategies and confidence-building conversation. Lunchtime: run a friendship and social skills group for eight Year 7 pupils identified by teachers as struggling with peer relationships. Afternoon: meet with a parent to discuss their child's support plan. Update records and write notes for a CAMHS consultation. Brief class teacher about a pupil whose behaviour has changed this week.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: School learning mentor salary: typically £20,000–£28,000 (term-time only). Some schools pay Band 3 or Band 4 equivalent on their support staff scale. Higher rates in London. Term-time only contracts reduce the effective annual earnings compared to 52-week roles.
Training costs: Level 3 TA/supporting learning qualification: typically £500–£1,500 at college or online. Safeguarding and MHFA training: provided by schools or available at low cost. DBS check required. No university tuition fees needed for most entry routes.