What does an Education Support Worker actually do?

Dave works in a secondary school. Emily works across a primary school. In this episode of Different Is Normal, we take you inside the real day-to-day work of Education Support — and it’s a lot more than simply “helping kids in class”.

We talk about academic, social, emotional and medical support, building relationships, school avoidance, modifying learning, reporting, camps, IEPs, understanding individual interests and triggers, and working alongside teachers.

Dave shares the story of a student who returned to say goodbye after leaving his school — including a plush penguin and a moment that showed just how much their relationship had meant.

We also explore school avoidance and why progress that might seem tiny from the outside can be enormous for a student.

Sometimes success isn't completing a worksheet.

Sometimes it's getting out of the car.

Sometimes it's walking through the school gate.

Sometimes it's looking through the classroom window.

And sometimes, eventually, it's walking through that classroom door.

Emily shares how knowing a student's interests helped her connect with a child returning after three weeks away from school, turning a difficult transition into engagement and participation.

Great Education Support isn't about doing everything for a student. It's about understanding the individual, building trust, removing barriers and supporting greater independence.

If you're an Education Support Worker, what's one moment that reminded you why you do this job?

If you're a teacher, parent or student, what difference has a great Education Support Worker made to you?

Tell us in the comments.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 What does an Education Support Worker do?
00:10 A day in secondary school ES
01:29 Emily's day in primary school
02:27 Funding and student needs
03:13 The student Dave will never forget
04:01 Why Dave bought him a penguin
05:03 The goodbye that meant everything
06:16 “We lasted because of you”
06:49 The emotional side of ES
08:00 Supporting school avoidance
09:05 Getting through the school gate
10:05 Building trust through interests
11:07 From watching to entering the classroom
13:00 Celebrating the small wins
21:45 Camps and responsibilities
21:49 Reporting and observations
22:49 Modifying curriculum
23:28 Supporting complex medical needs
24:19 Documenting behaviour and progress
26:01 Why student history matters
26:39 Using interests to build engagement
28:11 Celebrating the wins
28:14 Learning from other ES staff
28:43 Why handovers matter
29:26 IEPs, interests and triggers
30:17 Why ES are integral to classrooms
31:34 Tell us about your ES experience
31:57 Something new is coming

▶️ Watch the full episode:
https://youtu.be/WqwZXnmIWsA

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