Pastoral Support Assistant — Emotional Wellbeing (Primary)

Dorset Council; Wilton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust is seeking a Pastoral Learning Assistant to provide targeted pastoral interventions, support emotional wellbeing and promote inclusive learning across Year groups. The role involves working with children in a dedicated pastoral space and collaborating with teachers, families and external professionals to ensure safe, positive engagement.

The successful candidate will foster resilience, social communication, and readiness for learning while supporting attendance

Qualifications

• Experience of working with primary aged children or young people in an educational, pastoral, care or community setting.
• Understanding of children’s social, emotional and behavioural development and its impact on learning.
• Experience of supporting children with SEND, SEMH needs or other vulnerabilities would be helpful.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with pupils, parents and colleagues.
• A calm, patient, flexible and solution-focused approach when responding to children with a range of needs.
• Good organisational and record-keeping skills, including the ability to use IT systems to support communication and monitoring.
• A strong commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Deliver individual and small group pastoral interventions to support pupils’ emotional wellbeing, resilience, self-esteem, social communication and positive behaviour.
• Provide a safe, nurturing space for pupils experiencing social, emotional or behavioural difficulties, supporting them to regulate emotions and develop positive coping strategies.
• Support pupils with SEND, SEMH needs, barriers to attendance and participation, or other vulnerabilities, helping them to feel included and able to thrive.
• Work with pupils during times of change, challenge, transition or reintegration, helping them to build confidence and successfully engage in school life.
• Support pupils during unstructured times, including breaktimes, lunchtimes, arrivals and departures, encouraging positive social interaction and inclusion.
• Contribute to the planning, delivery, monitoring and review of support plans and pastoral interventions, keeping appropriate records and using school systems effectively.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, families and external agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to wellbeing, behaviour, attendance, safeguarding and inclusion.
• Contribute to a positive whole-school pastoral and learning environment where pupils feel safe, valued, respected and ready to learn.

Skills

Pastoral support

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust is seeking a Pastoral Learning Assistant to provide targeted pastoral interventions, support emotional wellbeing and promote inclusive learning across Year groups. The role involves working with children in a dedicated pastoral space and collaborating with teachers, families and external professionals to ensure safe, positive engagement.

The successful candidate will foster resilience, social communication, and readiness for learning while supporting attendance