Pastoral Support Assistant / DDSL

Help young people overcome barriers, build confidence and thrive at school.

We're looking for compassionate Pastoral Support Assistants to join Aurora Eccles School. In this varied and proactive role, you'll provide flexible support across the school—working either within an allocated zone or with targeted specific groups of students, i.e. children who are currently or formerly looked after, those who have regular involvement with social care teams, and students who are not currently attending school.  You'll help pupils engage in education, build positive relationships, regulate their emotions, improve attendance and take a full part in school life using a Trauma Informed Schools approach. You'll build trusted relationships, notice and respond to emerging needs early, and work collaboratively with colleagues and families to help pupils feel safe, supported and ready to learn. You will also act as a deputy DSL.

Why join Aurora Eccles School?

Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora Eccles School in Quidenham, Norwich provides day placements for students aged 11–16 who have a range of primary needs, primarily across the domains of communication and interaction, and cognition and learning. Some pupils may be autistic or experience anxiety and other barriers to learning.

• Small classes: a maximum of 10 students
• High staffing levels: a minimum of three staff in each class
• Specialist support: a full clinical team on site
• Experienced leadership: support from a stable senior leadership team

See the school for yourself: Take the Eccles Virtual Tour.

What you'll do

• Build positive, trusting relationships with pupils and act as a consistent role model, helping to strengthen individual and whole-school pastoral practice.
• Provide proactive support for an identified focus group of pupils, including looked-after children (LAC) where allocated, working closely with colleagues to understand needs, strengthen engagement and promote positive outcomes.
• Notice emerging pastoral needs early and put timely support in place to help pupils regulate their emotions, maintain engagement and participate successfully in school life.
• Deliver planned pastoral interventions, consulting the clinical team where appropriate, to support regulation, wellbeing, attendance and re-engagement with learning.
• Work collaboratively with teaching, pastoral and clinical colleagues to plan and review support for pupils, sharing relevant information so that approaches are coordinated and consistent.
• Provide a visible, supportive presence across the school day, including at break and lunchtime, and help create a calm, positive and inclusive school environment.
• Build effective relationships with parents and carers, helping to maintain consistent communication and joined-up support between home and school.
• Fulfil safeguarding duties as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), supporting the school's safeguarding arrangements and reporting to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) in relation to DDSL responsibilities.
• Contribute to relevant staff training, CPD and the sharing of pupil information to strengthen safeguarding and pastoral practice across the school.
• Respond promptly when pupils need additional pastoral support, including through on-call arrangements, and help them return successfully to learning. On very rare occasions, this may include supporting restrictive physical intervention.
• Monitor, support and report on pupils who are out of class, identifying patterns and working proactively with colleagues to support successful re-engagement.
• Support the effective delivery of the school's positive behaviour policy within a relational, regulation-focused approach.

Duties will vary, and you'll be expected to contribute to the wider aims of Aurora Eccles School when required. Please use the link at the bottom of the page to view the full job description.

What we're looking for

• GCSE Maths and English Language at Grade 4 or above, or equivalent—essential.
• A relevant professional qualification, or the ability to gain a Level 3 qualification in working with children and young people.
• A Level 5 Diploma in trauma-informed practice, or equivalent, or the willingness and ability to achieve it.
• Team Teach Level 2, or the willingness and ability to achieve it.
• Knowledge and demonstrable experience of working with children with SEN and/or disabilities.
• A sound understanding of safeguarding and child protection principles.
• Experience of different approaches to supporting emotional regulation.

Important: The post holder will occasionally be expected to drive in the course of their duties; applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

How to Apply: 

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at Liz.Hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search