Learner Support Advisor & Football Coach

Accesssport; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational sports organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a Learner Support Advisor & Football Coach. This role involves supporting the academic and personal development of learners while delivering engaging football coaching sessions. The ideal candidate will have relevant coaching qualifications, experience in working with vulnerable individuals, and skills in behavior management. We offer a generous holiday allocation, wellbeing benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Generous Holiday Allocation

Health Cash Plan

Paid Leave

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable and at-risk learners.
• Strong ability to engage and motivate learners.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and pastoral care.

Responsibilities

• Support academic progress and personal development.
• Deliver football coaching sessions tailored to learners.
• Monitor learner engagement and achievement.

Skills

1:1 learner support

Football coaching

Behaviour management

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Relevant coaching qualifications

Experience in education or coaching

Job description

Learner Support Advisor & Football Coach

Department: Learner Services / Access Sport

Reporting to: Learning Services Manager / Site Lead

Hours: 28.5 hours per week

Salary: £23,810 Pro rata (dependent on weeks worked)

DBS Check: Enhanced DBS required

Overall Purpose of the Role

To support learners’ academic progress, personal development, and wellbeing while delivering high-quality football coaching and sport-related learning, using sport as a tool to improve engagement, behaviour, attendance, achievement, and progression.

Learner Support & Pastoral Care

• Provide structured 1:1 and small-group learner support for learners with identified needs, including EHCP and Higher Needs learners.
• Act as a personal tutor or key worker for a caseload of learners, supporting academic progress, attendance, behaviour, and wellbeing.
• Develop, implement, and review individual support strategies, action plans, and SMART targets.
• Deliver pastoral interventions for vulnerable and ‘at risk’ learners, including advocacy and mediation where appropriate.
• Support learners at risk of exclusion by implementing behaviour and engagement strategies.
• Liaise with parents/guardians, curriculum staff, learner services, and external agencies, including participation in multi-agency meetings.
• Support learner transition, retention, progression, and preparation for employment or further study.

Football Coaching, Teaching & Practical Delivery

• Plan and deliver engaging, inclusive football coaching sessions tailored to learner needs and abilities.
• Deliver and support classroom-based sport-related learning, including assignment and portfolio completion.
• Conduct initial and diagnostic assessments and contribute to Individual Learning Plans (ILPs).
• Track learner progress using internal systems and provide regular feedback and reviews.
• Organise and supervise training sessions, fixtures, tournaments, and enrichment activities.
• Promote positive behaviour, teamwork, discipline, respect, and healthy lifestyles through football.
• Use sport as a tool to re-engage learners, build confidence, and support personal development.

Monitoring, Recording & Quality

• Maintain accurate and timely records of learner support, progress, and contact using internal systems.
• Monitor learner engagement, attendance, and achievement, escalating concerns where appropriate.
• Contribute to quality assurance processes and continuous improvement activities.
• Provide regular feedback to managers, course leaders, and delivery staff regarding learner progress.

Who is Access Sport?

Originally established in 2006 and formerly known as Coaching Connexions, Access Sport was created in 2019 following a merger with the biggest private training provider in the country Access Creative College (formerly Access to Music). We are part of Access Education Group which boasts 32 campuses nationwide with over 5,000 students & apprentices across ACC, dBs Institute (Higher Education) & Access Sport. We’re an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider.

We provide our players' teams with links to professional clubs/ academies as well as Semi-Professional clubs at various levels. At each of our campuses/ sites we employ tutors, coaches and various other roles to support the development of our students/ players. With weekly fixtures in various college league formats (AOC/ EFL/ National Youth Alliance) and daily training sessions, taken from a dedicated curriculum, we aim to provide our students with the most realistic elite sporting environment.

In return, staff will receive regular CPD via experienced practitioners, access to the best industry-related technology (VEO/ Sports session planner/ Catapult GPS vests) and an opportunity to work alongside and against professional clubs to build/ enhance your Footballing and Teaching CV. This extends to international competitions and tours to Europe, USA and Asia. Access Sport will help you to develop personally and professionally, we provide competitive salaries and expenses for travel. Our management and quality team has strong links within the sector and within the sports industry to help all staff to progress within or beyond our organisation.

What we offer?

• Generous Holiday Allocation
• Wellbeing Benefits: Health Cash Plan, Doctorline GP Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Access to Counselling and Cycle to Work
• Staff Discounts & Benefits: access to Accolade, our benefits platform which offers discounts at over 800 retailers!
• Paid Leave: Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Sick pay.

A full job description and person specification is available for download alongside our full benefits booklet.

Access Sport is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to Enhanced DBS clearance. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory Enhanced DBS clearance and all required references have been received and verified.

We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and inclusivity for all our employees and potential employees. Diversity and open expression are fundamental to creativity. We believe in the diversity of thought, as that's what helps us help our learners. We therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds.