Pupil Support

eTeach UK Limited; Haywards Heath; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS or TPS pension

Cycle Scheme

Employee wellbeing program

Staff discounts

Season Ticket Loan

Job summary

Brantridge School, part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust, is seeking a dedicated Pupil Support Assistant to join our team at Brantridge School, Staplefield. You will work closely with pupils aged 5–11 with SEMH and ASC to support learning, behaviour and wellbeing in a calm, safe environment.

This role is 36 hours per week, term-time only (39 weeks per year), with start ASAP. The successful candidate will build strong relationships with pupils and staff and contribute to our inclusive,

Qualifications

• Experience of working with children or young people in an education or support setting.
• Understanding of SEMH needs and ASC support approaches.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with pupils and staff.
• Patience, resilience and the ability to stay calm in challenging situations.
• Team-focused approach to pupil wellbeing and development.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to pupils to help them access learning and engage positively in the school day.
• Support pupils’ SEMH development and behaviour plans in line with the school approach.
• Collaborate with teachers and support staff to implement individual support strategies.
• Build positive relationships with pupils to help them feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
• Help maintain a calm, structured, and supportive learning environment across the school.

Skills

SEMH support

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Patience and resilience

Team collaboration

Job description

Salary: (Actual) £29,187.81 - £32,731.17 (FTE) £34,086-£38,224 (Grade S5 SP 27.1 – 32) Location: Brantridge School, Staplefield Place, RH17 6EQWorking Pattern: 36 hours per week term time only (39 weeks per year)Start Date: ASAP

Brantridge School is a specialist setting for boys aged 5 to 11 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC). Nestled in the Sussex Weald near Haywards Heath, the school is based in a beautifully adapted country manor house surrounded by expansive grounds, an ideal environment for learning and growth. Our pupils benefit from a rich and engaging curriculum, including an exciting on-site outdoor learning programme. At Brantridge School, we take pride in offering a flexible, personalised approach that supports every child as an individual, helping them to thrive both academically and emotionally. Dedicated and experienced staff work with families to ensure children make real progress at Brantridge School, and parental feedback is overwhelmingly positive on the child-centred approach and flexibility of the staff team.

Brantridge School is expanding its primary provision in partnership with West Sussex County Council. As part of this growth, we will be increasing the number of places available and introducing additional primary classes on our school site.

To support the continued development of our primary provision, we are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Pupil Support Assistant to join our team. This is a rewarding opportunity to work closely with pupils and teaching staff to help create a safe, supportive and engaging learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to pupils to help them access learning and engage positively in the school day.
• Support pupils’ social, emotional and behavioural development in line with the school’s SEMH approach.
• Work closely with teachers and support staff to implement individual support strategies and behaviour plans.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with pupils to help them feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
• Contribute to maintaining a calm, structured and supportive learning environment across the school.

Key Requirements

• Experience of working with children or young people, ideally within an education or support setting.
• An understanding of, or interest in, supporting pupils with SEMH needs and additional challenges.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive relationships with pupils and staff.
• Patience, resilience and the ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
• A team-focused approach and commitment to supporting pupils’ wellbeing and development.

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.

Our Trust: Brantridge School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre‑school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.

We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

As a large specialist education provider, we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.

It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.

Closing Date: 30/10/2026

Interviews will take place on: w/b 9/11/2026

To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.