🌟 Pastoral Support Assistant Required – Brighton

Mainstream Primary School | Specialist SEN Unit | Full-Time Opportunity

💛 Make a difference. Build relationships. Help every child thrive.

Engage Education is working with a welcoming and inclusive mainstream primary school in Brighton with a specialist SEN unit, which is looking for a compassionate, patient and proactive Pastoral Support Assistant to join its team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about supporting children with additional needs, promoting emotional wellbeing and helping pupils overcome barriers to learning.

You’ll work with children across the school, including pupils accessing the specialist SEN provision, supporting those who may experience social, emotional and communication difficulties, anxiety, sensory needs or challenges with emotional regulation.

The school recognises that every child is different and places importance on understanding individual needs, building trusting relationships and providing consistent, nurturing support. As a Pastoral Support Assistant, you’ll play an important role in helping pupils feel safe, valued and confident within the school environment.

This role is about more than supporting behaviour. It’s about understanding the reasons behind it, recognising that behaviour can be a form of communication and helping children develop the confidence, resilience and emotional regulation skills they need to succeed.

Previous experience supporting children with SEND, SEMH or behavioural needs would be highly beneficial. However, we also welcome applications from candidates with transferable experience in youth work, care, mentoring or other supportive roles.

💛 About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting children or young people with additional needs, emotional difficulties or challenging behaviour.

• Understands the importance of a patient, empathetic and relationship-led approach.

• Can remain calm, consistent and positive when supporting pupils through challenging situations.

• Is confident setting clear boundaries while maintaining a warm and nurturing approach.

• Can build trusting relationships and help children feel safe, valued and understood.

• Understands the importance of emotional regulation, positive reinforcement and individualised support.

• Can encourage pupils’ social, emotional and personal development.

• Is resilient, adaptable and able to respond sensitively to different needs.

• Is passionate about helping children overcome barriers to learning and reach their potential.

👩‍🏫 Who Should Apply?

We’d particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience as:

• SEN Teaching Assistants – experienced supporting pupils with autism, ADHD, communication needs and other additional needs.

• Pastoral Support Workers – confident promoting emotional wellbeing, positive relationships and engagement with education.

• Behaviour Mentors – experienced helping pupils regulate their emotions and develop positive behaviours.

• Youth Workers – skilled in building relationships and supporting young people’s social and emotional development.

• Support Workers or Care Workers – experienced providing patient, consistent support to individuals with additional needs.

• Learning Mentors – passionate about helping children develop confidence, resilience and positive attitudes towards learning.

Experience of trauma-informed practice, sensory needs, attachment difficulties or therapeutic approaches would be particularly beneficial.

🏫 About the School

You’ll be joining a mainstream primary school in Brighton with a dedicated specialist SEN unit, offering the opportunity to work within an inclusive setting that supports children with a range of learning and developmental needs.

The role will involve working alongside experienced teachers, SEN staff and support professionals to provide consistent, individualised support and help pupils access the best possible learning experience.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop their experience within mainstream and specialist SEND education.

💙 Why Choose Engage Education?

When you join Engage Education, you’ll benefit from:

• 💷 Fair, AWR-compliant pay, where applicable.

• 🤝 Dedicated support: Your own Engage consultant will provide ongoing guidance throughout your placement.

• 📚 Free CPD opportunities: Access professional development and training delivered by experienced education professionals.

• 🚀 Career development: Build your experience in SEND, pastoral care and behaviour support.

• 🎁 Refer a friend: Earn a £50 Amazon voucher when someone you refer works five days. There’s no limit to the number of referrals!

🚀 Ready to Make a Difference?

If you’re passionate about helping children feel safe, build positive relationships and develop the skills they need to succeed, we’d love to hear from you!

Apply today or contact Engage Education directly to find out more about this Pastoral Support Assistant opportunity in Brighton.

All successful candidates will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding and safer recruitment checks, including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance will be provided with the process.

If you haven’t heard from us within two working days, unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion. You’re welcome to apply for other suitable vacancies.

By applying for this role, you consent to Engage Education Ltd processing your personal information for recruitment purposes in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including UK GDPR.

Help children feel understood, build confidence and discover what they’re capable of. Apply today!