Pastoral Practitioner

Acorn Care and Education; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational provider in the UK is seeking a Pastoral Practitioner for their independent specialist school in Southampton. The role involves providing targeted mentoring and support to students, promoting their academic and emotional wellbeing. The ideal candidate will have experience working with children or young people with additional needs and possess strong communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary of £26,775 per annum in a supportive environment focused on positive outcomes for students.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Flexible Benefits Platform

Discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Family Growth Support

Qualifications

• Experience with SEN or SEMH children.
• Ability to provide support tailored to individual needs.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard and promote pupil welfare.
• Provide 1:1 mentoring and support.
• Assist during learning sessions and manage behaviour.
• Work with leadership to identify and support at-risk pupils.
• Participate in meetings about pupil welfare.

Skills

Experience working with children or young people

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to remain calm in challenging situations

Proactive problem-solving approach

Commitment to safeguarding and promoting wellbeing

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four? At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job Details

• Job Title: Pastoral Practitioner
• Location: Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
• Salary: £26,775.00 per annum (not pro rata)
• Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
• Start: January 2026
• UK applicants only — this role does not offer sponsorship

About the Role

The Pastoral Practitioner plays a key role in providing targeted, 1:1 mentoring and support to pupils, ensuring they achieve their full potential. Working closely with teaching staff, parents/carers, and the Senior Leadership Team, you will deliver interventions, guidance, and support tailored to individual needs. Your work will help create a safe, nurturing, and structured environment where every pupil can grow in confidence, resilience, and independence.

Key Responsibilities

• Safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils at all times
• Provide 1:1 mentoring and support to pupils, addressing academic, social, and emotional needs
• Assist pupils during learning sessions, break times, and lunchtimes, including behaviour management and facilitating activities
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to identify pupils in need and ensure appropriate support is in place
• Participate in meetings with parents, carers, and external agencies to discuss pupil welfare and progress
• Implement and manage reward and sanction systems consistently and effectively
• Liaise and provide feedback to parents/carers, offering guidance and signposting to relevant support services

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working with children or young people with additional needs, including SEN or SEMH
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with pupils, staff, and families
• Ability to remain calm, consistent, and supportive in challenging situations
• A proactive, reflective approach to problem‑solving and pupil support
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all pupils
• Full UK Driving Licence

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school based in Southampton. We provide inclusive education within a safe and nurturing environment for students with complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges, communication and interaction difficulties, and associated behaviours. Our focus is on meeting each pupil’s individual needs and helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
• A market‑leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enabling you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support — inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.