Pastoral Support Worker – Durham

Milk Education; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive weekly pay

Long-term opportunities with potential

Fast-track registration & compliance

Perks Portal access

CPD courses through Milk Academy

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Milk Education is recruiting a dedicated Pastoral Support Worker to join primary schools in Durham from September 2026. You will support pupils' emotional wellbeing, attendance, behaviour, and engagement with education, helping create a safe, nurturing environment.

Roles cover one-to-one and small-group interventions, building positive relationships with children, and working closely with teachers and school staff.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children or young people is desirable.
• Experience in pastoral support, mentoring, youth work, care, education, or behaviour support is advantageous.
• A Level 2 or Level 3 qualification is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Calm, patient, approachable, and resilient personality.
• Ability to build positive relationships with children and young people.
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Strong ability to work as part of a wider school team.
• Passion for supporting children’s wellbeing and educational development.
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply).

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral and emotional support to pupils across the Primary age range.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support pupils experiencing social, emotional, behavioural, or personal challenges.
• Deliver one-to-one and small-group interventions where required.
• Support pupils to develop confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation.
• Encourage positive behaviour and engagement with learning.
• Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, DSLs, and other school staff.
• Support pupils with attendance and engagement where appropriate.
• Help identify barriers to learning and support appropriate strategies.
• Maintain accurate records and communicate relevant information to the wider school team.
• Promote safeguarding and the wellbeing of all pupils.

Skills

Pastoral support

Communication skills

Calm and resilient

Safeguarding understanding

Education

Level 2/3 qualification (desirable)

Tools

Enhanced DBS Update Service (desirable)

Job description

Pastoral Support Worker – Durham

Milk Education is working with a number of welcoming and supportive Primary Schools across Durham and the surrounding areas and is looking to recruit caring, enthusiastic, and dedicated Pastoral Support Workers to join schools from September 2026.

Whether you’re an experienced Pastoral Support Worker or have a background in education, youth work, care, mentoring, behaviour support, or working with children and young people, we’d love to hear from you. We have a range of long-term and full-time opportunities available, with the potential to become permanent for the right candidate.

You’ll play a vital role in supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing, social development, attendance, behaviour, and engagement with education. You’ll help create a positive and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, valued, and able to achieve their potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral and emotional support to pupils across the Primary age range.
• Build positive and trusting relationships with pupils.
• Support pupils experiencing social, emotional, behavioural, or personal challenges.
• Deliver one-to-one and small-group interventions where required.
• Support pupils to develop confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation.
• Encourage positive behaviour and engagement with learning.
• Work closely with teachers, SENCOs, DSLs, and other school staff.
• Support pupils with attendance and engagement where appropriate.
• Help identify barriers to learning and support appropriate strategies.
• Maintain accurate records and communicate relevant information to the wider school team.
• Promote safeguarding and the wellbeing of all pupils.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

• Experience working with children or young people is desirable.
• Experience in pastoral support, mentoring, youth work, care, education, or behaviour support is advantageous.
• A relevant Level 2 or Level 3 qualification is desirable but not essential.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Calm, patient, approachable, and resilient personality.
• Ability to build positive relationships with children and young people.
• Understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Strong ability to work as part of a wider school team.
• Passion for supporting children’s wellbeing and educational development.
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply).

What Milk Education Offers

• Competitive weekly pay of £538.55 – £575.00 per week.
• Opportunities across Durham and surrounding areas.
• Long-term opportunities with the potential to become permanent.
• Fast-track registration and compliance process.
• Five-star rated education agency with strong local school partnerships.
• Access to our Perks Portal with discounts and exclusive offers.
• Over 1,000 free and discounted CPD courses through Milk Academy.
• Free PSHE lesson plans and teaching resources.
• Educator wellbeing support and wellbeing hub access.
• School Preparation Pack.
• Ongoing support from your dedicated consultant.

This role is paid within the advertised pay scale. Your starting rate will be determined by your qualifications, relevant experience, and the requirements of the assignment.

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS and compliance checks in line with the DfE’s Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and APSCo standards.

Milk Education is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.