Primary Outreach Mentor

Shorefields; Wickford; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Shorefields in Wickford is seeking a Primary Outreach Mentor to reconnect children with learning across homes, communities, and local schools. This full-time role offers a rewarding, non-desk position where you build trusted relationships and deliver engaging activities that reignite curiosity and belonging for primary-aged children.

You'll work across settings, perform welfare checks, and collaborate with families, teachers and external agencies to remove barriers and support reintegration into

Qualifications

• Experience working with primary-aged children in education, youth work, or pastoral settings.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with young children and communicate with empathy.
• Confidence working in different environments - homes, communities, and primary school settings.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Creativity, flexibility and a solution-focused mindset.
• Courage to work independently and humility to ask for help when needed.

Responsibilities

• Make real connections - Build trust with children and families through meaningful welfare checks and home visits
• Work across settings - Support children in local primary schools, helping them engage with learning and overcome barriers in the classroom
• Deliver a specialist curriculum - Deliver engaging, age-appropriate sessions that reignite curiosity and prepare children to thrive in school
• Be a champion - Advocate for young learners, working alongside families, teachers and external agencies to remove barriers and create opportunities
• Change lives - Watch children rediscover their confidence, rebuild relationships with learning, and take their next steps forward

Skills

Experience with children

Empathy and communication

Safeguarding

Independent work

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC1120-466S Position Type: Teaching/Child Support Pay Range: LGS 7 point 19 (Range 19-24)

Position Start Date: 04/01/2027 Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 15/11/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: 24th November 2026

Full time 37 hours per week, term time + 5 INSET days | Salary: LGS 7 point 19 (range 19 - 24) Actual salary including fringe: £29,038
Children's Support Service

Be the difference. Be the connection. Be the bridge back to learning.

Are you ready to take on one of the most rewarding roles in primary education? We're looking for an exceptional Primary Outreach Mentor to join our Primary Team - a rarely available opportunity to work directly with young children who need you most.

This isn't a desk job. This is about being where children need you - in their homes, in their communities, in our primary school and in local primary schools. You'll become a trusted face, a safe person, and a bridge that helps young learners find their way back to education and belonging.

What you'll do:

• Make real connections - Build trust with children and families through meaningful welfare checks and home visits
• Work across settings - Support children in local primary schools, helping them engage with learning and overcome barriers in the classroom
• Deliver a specialist curriculum - Deliver engaging, age-appropriate sessions that reignite curiosity and prepare children to thrive in school
• Be a champion - Advocate for young learners, working alongside families, teachers and external agencies to remove barriers and create opportunities
• Change lives - Watch children rediscover their confidence, rebuild relationships with learning, and take their next steps forward

Who we're looking for:

We want someone who's passionate about primary-aged children, resilient, and genuinely cares about making a difference. You might be a youth worker, pastoral leader, teaching assistant, learning mentor, or anyone with experience supporting young children through challenging times.

• Experience working with primary-aged children in education, youth work, or pastoral settings
• The ability to build trusting relationships with young children and communicate with empathy
• Confidence working in different environments - homes, communities, and primary school settings
• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Creativity, flexibility and a solution-focused mindset
• The courage to work independently and the humility to ask for help when you need it
• Work with a brilliant new team - You'll be supported by passionate colleagues who share your commitment to children and led by our inspirational new Head of Primary.
• Make a genuine impact - This role offers the chance to transform young lives in ways that few others can
• Develop your skills - Access ongoing training and professional development opportunities
• Be part of something special - Join a service dedicated to giving every child the best possible start

This is more than a job. It's a calling. If you're ready to step up and be the person a young child will never forget, we want to hear from you.

Information about the School

The Children’s Support Service is a short stay alternative provision in Essex. We educate and support children from KS1 - KS4 as well as providing an outreach service which works to support students, staff and schools in the local area. Our schools are based in Basildon (secondary) and Wickford (primary and secondary).

Our Medical Education Team work across South and West Essex and focus on not only educating children and young people but crucially reintegrating our students back into their mainstream school.

We now offer, in partnership with Essex Local Authority Education Access Team, an education and reintegration programme for students who have been permanently excluded from any part of Essex back to their local mainstream school.

Most of our students are referred to us due to challenges they may have faced in school; many come with additional needs and require academic, emotional and social support. We pride ourselves on overcoming these challenges and ensuring every student is successful.

We offer a wide range of subjects and match a mainstream setting through our core curriculum offer. At the same time, as a 'needs -led' provision we offer extensive enrichment opportunities to our students.

We collaborate with schools and professionals who need our support, and aim to reintegrate students back into mainstream education or prepare them for other lifelong learning opportunities.

Our staff create positive, safe, caring and supportive learning environments, helping to inspire every child to 'be the best they can be.'

CSS staff benefit from flexible working arrangements, our subscription to an Employee Assistance Programme, which provides mental health and well-being support services for all staff, including 24/7 access to advice, support and counselling for our whole team.

Please note that car insurance including "business use" is required.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Reconnect Mentor

Children's Support Service, Wickford Closing: 15/11/2026 Midnight