Student Support Coach - Maternity Cover

Outcomes First Group; Sutton-in-Ashfield; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Your Wellbeing Matters

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Job summary

Westbourne School in Sutton-in-Ashfield is seeking a compassionate Student Support Coach on a maternity cover contract. You will provide pastoral, emotional and behavioural support to students needing additional help to thrive.

You will work with staff and external agencies to promote inclusion and positive learning engagement, building resilience and safeguarding together with the Student Services Team.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting children or young people in education or pastoral care.
• Understanding SEMH needs, autism and related challenges affecting learning.
• Ability to manage challenging situations calmly, professionally and positively.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with students who may struggle to trust.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with teachers and external professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small-group pastoral support to develop confidence and emotional wellbeing.
• Coach students in emotional regulation and positive behaviour strategies.
• Respond calmly to behavioural incidents using de-escalation and restorative approaches.
• Work with staff and leaders to promote positive behaviour and engagement.
• Develop personalised support strategies including risk assessments and intervention plans.
• Build relationships with parents, carers and external agencies for coordinated support.
• Support students with friendships, self-esteem, bullying and learning access.
• Contribute to school-wide behaviour initiatives and pastoral activities.

Skills

Pastoral support

Emotional regulation

Behaviour management

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Safeguarding

IT skills

Record keeping

Independent working

Collaboration

Education

Experience supporting children or young people in education or pastoral care

Job description

Student Support Coach Maternity Cover
Location: Westbourne School, Sutton in Ashfield, NG17 2EL
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday - Friday
Salary: £22,300.00 per annum
Contract: Fixed Term - 12 months | Term time only
Start: November 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Westbourne School, we’re looking for a compassionate, confident and resilient Student Support Coach to join our Student Services Team and make a real difference to young people who need additional support to succeed.

Our school supports students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, including students with autism or associated behaviours. We understand that every student is different, and that building positive relationships, providing consistency and recognising individual needs are essential to helping them thrive.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll provide pastoral, emotional and behavioural support, helping students manage their emotions, overcome challenges and develop the confidence to engage positively with education.

Whether you’re supporting a student through a difficult moment, helping them return to the classroom or celebrating a personal breakthrough, you’ll play an important part in helping young people feel safe, understood and ready to learn.

What you will be doing

• Provide individual and small-group pastoral support, helping students develop confidence, resilience, positive relationships and emotional wellbeing.

• Coach students in emotional regulation, self-management and positive behaviour strategies, helping them understand and manage challenging situations.

• Respond calmly and effectively to behavioural incidents, using de-escalation and restorative approaches to help students return successfully to learning.

• Work closely with teaching staff, the Student Support Lead and Senior Leadership Team to promote positive behaviour and student engagement.

• Develop and implement personalised support strategies, including risk assessments, safety plans and intervention programmes.

• Build positive relationships with parents, carers, clinical professionals and external agencies to ensure students receive consistent and coordinated support.

• Support students with challenges such as friendships, self-esteem, bullying and difficulties accessing learning.

• Contribute to school-wide behaviour initiatives, rewards systems and pastoral activities that promote inclusion, responsibility and achievement.

What you will bring

We’re looking for someone who understands that behind every behaviour is a young person who may need guidance, patience and the right support.

You’ll bring:

• Experience supporting children or young people, ideally within education, pastoral care, mentoring, behaviour support or a similar setting.

• An understanding of SEMH needs, autism and the challenges that can affect emotional wellbeing and engagement with learning.

• The confidence and resilience to manage challenging situations calmly, professionally and positively.

• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage students who may find it difficult to trust others.

• An understanding of positive behaviour support, emotional regulation and restorative approaches.

• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with teachers, clinical professionals and wider support teams.

• Good organisational and IT skills, including accurate record keeping and monitoring student progress.

• A patient, adaptable and empathetic approach, with high expectations for every student’s potential.

• A strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and promoting student wellbeing.

About Us

Westbourne School provides specialist education for students aged 8–18 across two sites. We offer a broad, balanced and personalised curriculum that combines academic and vocational learning with life skills, personal development and enrichment, supporting each student to build confidence, independence and the skills they need for their future.

As a teacher at Westbourne, you will be responsible for planning and delivering engaging, purposeful learning. You will adapt your teaching to meet the individual needs, abilities and aspirations of our students, many of whom may have experienced barriers to learning in previous educational settings. Differentiation, personalised learning strategies and a nurturing, trauma‑informed approach are key to ensuring that every student feels valued, supported and able to achieve their potential.

At Outcomes First Schools, we provide specialist education for learners who need a deeper level of understanding, expertise and support than mainstream education can typically offer. We support students with a wide range of complex, co‑occurring and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia and experiences of trauma or adversity.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference.We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

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

OFG Education 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, OFG Education 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