Belonging Advocate (L2/3 Teaching Assistant - Depending on Experience)

Temporary (with a strong possibility of becoming permanent) 36 Hours Per Week 39 Weeks Per Year Band D/F (depending on Experience) Required From 01/09/2026.

As The Castleway Family of Schools continues to grow, we are looking to appoint a compassionate, nurturing and highly relational 'Belonging Advocate' to join our team. This is a new and unique role that focuses on helping children feel safe, valued and connected to our school community. Working across the Early Years and Primary phase, you will support children with wellbeing, attendance, friendships, emotional regulation and readiness to learn, ensuring that every child feels that they truly belong. At Castleway, we believe every child deserves adults who understand them, champion them and help them to be successful. Our motto is simple: Be kind. Be confident. Be your best.

The Role - The successful candidate will work closely with children, families and staff to promote wellbeing, belonging and positive engagement in school life. The role will involve:

• Supporting children's emotional wellbeing, regulation and readiness to learn
• Delivering pastoral and wellbeing interventions for individuals and small groups
• Building strong, trusting relationships with children and families
• Supporting children who may experience anxiety, attendance difficulties, friendship challenges or social and emotional needs
• Working alongside class teachers, leaders and our inclusion team
• Supporting children in classrooms, outdoor spaces, Forest School and during less structured parts of the day
• Helping children develop resilience, confidence and positive relationships
• Promoting attendance through positive engagement with children and families
• Supporting children to develop emotional literacy and self-regulation strategies
• Contributing to observations, support plans and communication with families
• Creating calm, welcoming environments where every child feels valued
• Championing inclusion and belonging across the school community

We Are Looking For Someone Who:

• Holds a relevant Level 2 or Level 3 qualification
• Has experience working with children with social, emotional, communication or additional needs
• May have experience within a pastoral, nurture, attendance, wellbeing or therapeutic role
• Is calm, patient, empathetic and highly nurturing
• Has excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Understands attachment-aware and trauma-informed approaches
• Can work flexibly across a range of ages and needs
• Is reflective, resilient and works well as part of a team
• Is committed to inclusive practice and ensuring every child can succeed
• Is enthusiastic about professional development and continual learning
• Wants to make a genuine difference to children and families within our school community

About The Castleway Family of Schools - The Castleway Family of Schools is made up of Castleway Primary School and Castleway Nursery School. Over the last five years, our schools have grown significantly because families value what makes Castleway different. We are proud of our inclusive approach, our strong relationships with families and our belief that every child should be known, understood and supported to succeed. We are passionate about removing barriers to learning and creating opportunities for children to flourish. From Forest School and movement breaks to family events, nurture support and innovative approaches to inclusion, we are always looking for ways to meet the needs of our children and community.

We are proud to be:

• A school of choice for our community
• A National Inclusion Champion through the Inclusion Quality Mark
• Holders of the Leading Parent Partnership Award
• Winners of Wirral School of the Year 2025

Most importantly, we are a school where our children and families matter.

What We Offer:

• A leadership team that genuinely values staff wellbeing
• A friendly, supportive and welcoming team
• High quality professional development opportunities
• A culture where ideas are listened to and everyone contributes
• Opportunities to develop specialist skills in inclusion, wellbeing and pastoral support
• The chance to make a real difference every day
• A truly wonderful community

If you are passionate about helping children feel safe, successful and connected, we would love to hear from you. We warmly encourage prospective applicants to visit our school and experience the Castleway community for themselves.

The Castleway Family of Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, online and social media checks and satisfactory references. Applications are welcomed regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership status.

Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@castleway.wirral.sch.uk. Closing Date: 03/07/26 at 9:00am. Shortlisting: Afternoon of 03/07/26. Interviews: 09/07/26.