At a Glance
- Tasks: Support children with social, emotional, and behavioural needs while improving attendance.
- Company: Welcoming infant school in Central Sunderland with a diverse community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, term-time only, and a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and work closely with families.
- Qualifications: HND/HNC or equivalent, experience with SEMH/SEND, and strong safeguarding knowledge.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on nurturing and supporting vulnerable pupils.
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 £ per year.
Are you confident, compassionate, and solution-focused? Are you passionate about improving attendance and working closely with families to remove barriers to learning? We are seeking a Pastoral Support Officer to support children with complex social, emotional, and behavioural needs, improve attendance, and work closely with families in a fast-paced, inclusive school.
Location: Central Sunderland (SR4)
Salary: £24,000 - £30,000 per year
Working Pattern: Full-time preferred (4 days considered)
Duration: Term Time Only (39 weeks)
Age Range: 2–7 years
Ideal Candidate:
- Essential:
- HND/HNC or equivalent
- Experience with SEMH, SEND, or complex behavioural needs
- Strong safeguarding knowledge
- Confident working with families and agencies
- Calm, resilient, solution-focused, committed to early starts
- Educational Psychology MSc or related qualification
- Experience in early years settings
- Experience with attendance monitoring and interventions
About the School:
- Large infant school with 3-form entry, nursery for 100+ children, and wraparound provision (7:30am–5:30pm)
- Diverse community: 50% English as an Additional Language, 32% on SEND register
- Developed in-house SEN provision (“Blossom”)
- Behaviour management is a key focus in an open-plan environment
Key Responsibilities:
- Monitor and improve pupil attendance and punctuality
- Conduct first-day responses, home visits, and parent meetings
- Track and report attendance data; liaise with Local Authority
- Support vulnerable pupils and families; implement strategies for SEMH challenges
- Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
- Manage safeguarding concerns, referrals, and CPOMS records
- Attend multi-agency meetings; advise staff on safeguarding best practice
- Support Cared-for Children with PEP targets
- Build nurturing relationships and support emotional wellbeing
- Respond to children in crisis and provide targeted interventions
- Attend professional meetings and contribute to wider school life
- Support lunchtime and educational visits
- Follow health, safety, and data protection policies
If you’re a compassionate, proactive professional ready to support children with complex social, emotional, and behavioural needs, improve attendance, and work closely with families, apply today to join our welcoming infant school in Sunderland.
Pastoral Support Officer employer: KPI Recruiting Ltd
Contact Detail:
KPI Recruiting Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pastoral Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in education or related fields. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the school and its community. Understand their values and challenges, especially around attendance and support for families. This will help us tailor your responses and show you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your answers to common interview questions, especially those related to safeguarding and supporting children with SEMH needs. We can even do mock interviews together to boost your confidence!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Pastoral Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for supporting children and families shine through. We want to see how your experiences align with our mission to improve attendance and tackle barriers to learning.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase any experience you have with SEMH, SEND, or working in early years settings. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so don’t hold back on sharing your relevant skills!
Be Solution-Focused: In your application, emphasise your solution-focused approach. We love candidates who can think on their feet and come up with creative strategies to support vulnerable pupils and families.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our team in Sunderland.
How to prepare for a job interview at KPI Recruiting Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of SEMH and SEND. Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges children face in these areas, and think about how you can apply your experience to support them effectively.
✨Show Your Compassion
During the interview, be ready to share examples of how you've supported families and children in the past. Highlight your ability to build nurturing relationships and demonstrate your commitment to improving attendance and emotional wellbeing.
✨Be Solution-Focused
Prepare to discuss strategies you've implemented to overcome barriers to learning. Think about specific interventions you've used and how they made a difference. This will show that you're proactive and ready to tackle challenges head-on.
✨Understand Safeguarding
Since safeguarding is a key part of the role, make sure you can talk confidently about your safeguarding knowledge and experience. Be prepared to discuss how you've managed concerns in the past and your approach to working with multi-agency teams.