Learning Support Key Worker (Pastoral & SEMH)

Dovetail and Slate; Stroud; On-site; GBP 27,552 - 30,307; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Term-time schedule

Flexible hours

Potential for permanent role

Job summary

Dovetail and Slate is recruiting a Learning Support Key Worker (Pastoral & SEMH) to support at-risk students across regional campuses. The role emphasises pastoral care, attendance improvement, and small-group interventions to remove barriers to learning.

The post is temporary with potential to become permanent, term-time only (38 weeks) with flexible hours (3 days a week minimum). DBS checks are required where applicable.

Qualifications

• GCSEs in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent Level 2).
• A Level 3+ qualification in education, youth work, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Act as central contact for up to 50 vulnerable learners, building trust and resilience.
• Implement de-escalation and trauma-informed practices with targeted small-group sessions.
• Develop individual support plans and chair annual EHCP reviews, tracking progress.

Skills

Empathy

Resilience

Pastoral support

Relationship-building

Trauma-informed

Education

GCSEs English & Maths C/4+

Level 3+ qualification in education/youth work

Job description

Learning Support Key Worker (Pastoral & SEMH)

Employment Type: Temporary, ongoing assessment with chances of becoming permanent, Term-time only, August start

Hours: fleixable hours availability (full-time or part-time)

Salary: £20-£22 per hour via Umbrella

Are you an empathetic, resilient, and highly skilled pastoral professional driven by the belief that every young person deserves an equitable pathway to success? We are seeking Learning Support Key Workers to join our centralised support network across our regional campuses.

This is a deeply pastoral, relationship-focused role. You will serve as the primary anchor and trusted point of contact for at‑risk young people, including those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), students with SEMH and additional needs. Rather than general daily classroom supervision, your focus will be on driving attendance, running small-group interventions, managing behaviour dynamically, and empowering students to remain engaged in education.

Benefits

• A stable term‑time-only structure (38 weeks per year) that aligns with the academic calendar.
• Standardise your week around your lifestyle with flexible part-time or full-time schedules (minimum 3 days per week).
• Start with the stability of a full academic year contract, with excellent opportunities to secure a permanent role within the wider educational group.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a central, consistent contact point for a cohort of up to 50 vulnerable learners, building high-trust relationships that foster resilience and emotional regulation.
• Implement dynamic de‑escalation, trauma‑informed practices, and targeted small-group sessions to address barriers to learning and anxiety-related non‑attendance
• Develop individual support plans and chair a selection of annual EHCP reviews, tracking progress against social, emotional, and academic goals.

Requirements

• GCSEs in English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent Level 2 standard). A Level 3+ qualification in education, youth work, or a related field is essential.
• Proven experience working in a school, college, PRU, or alternative provision setting. Experience as an HLTA, Pastoral Mentor, or Progress Coach is a strong fit.
• Ability to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure with barred list checks.

Even if you don't meet every single criteria listed, if you are a resilient individual with a genuine passion for supporting students and a willingness to learn, we would still love to hear from you.

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to satisfactory vetting, including a right to work check and, where relevant, an enhanced DBS, PVG (Scotland), or EWC (Wales) check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

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