Becoming a mentor

Learning mentors provide additional services to teachers and pastoral staff in schools to help children overcome barriers to learning, both inside and outside the school, and to achieve their full potential, and develop action plans to meet learning goals.

They work closely with teachers, classroom assistants, special needs assistants and classroom volunteers to identify children who are making less progress than their potential, and develop action plans to meet learning goals.

Working with children

Mentors then support the children to help them achieve these goals.

Mentors may work with children in a one-to-one relationship, or with small groups. Most of their work involves working with these children to help them progress in the classroom or other school activities, e.g lunchtimes or outings.

Reducing truancy and absence

They may provide support with truancy/absence, in the playground or developing social skills. They also keep in contact with the children's family or carers to try and get support and involvement from them in meeting the child's needs and helping their progress.

Referals to external agencies

Learning mentors often refer the children they support onto other agencies, courses, organisations, activities or individuals for extra support.

Referrals could be to social and youth services, education welfare services, probation and careers services, out-of-school study support and business and community voluntary mentors.

They need to share information between all the different people and organisations involved in supporting the children they are mentoring.

What makes a good learning mentor

The main requirements of a learning mentor are:

An ability to form good relationships with a wide range of young people and their families/carers and with a variety of organisations.
An ability to gain the confidence of children, schools, agencies and people in the community and business.
Skills in negotiating, planning and managing activities.

Learning mentors need good listening skills and an understanding of health and social issues that affect children's development.

They will need to understand the school curriculum and the needs of learners. Mentors need competence in literacy and numeracy and may require GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and maths.

Training through Wolverhampton College

Wolverhampton College run a two day 'Introduction to Mentoring' course. To apply you can contact them on 01902 821943.

They may also be required to have a professional qualification in education, social work or nursing.

On-the-job training

Training is usually on-the-job, although occasionally outside training may be available to address a particular need of the school, for instance, cross-cultural issues.

For further information

Please contact:

Janet Kerr

Learning Mentor Co-ordinator

Access and Inclusion

Jennie Lee Centre

Lichfield Road

Wednesfield

Wolverhampton

WV11 3HT

Phone: 01902 555250

E-mail: janet.kerr@wolverhampton.gov.uk

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