 
        
        JOB OVERVIEW
Are you passionate about emotional wellbeing, creative interventions, and the magic of the outdoors?
Do you believe in nurturing the whole child and helping young people build resilience, confidence, and connection?
If so, please read on!
We have a fantastic new opportunity for an Emotional Literacy Support Assistantwho is ELSA trained, and can connect with students with warmth, empathy and consistency.
As the dedicated Emotional Literacy Support Assistant you will ideally have Forest School expertise – but if not, you will have the willingness to undertake the relevant training to become a vital part of the pastoral team.
This is a unique and rewarding role for an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant to work 1:1 and in small groups to support students’ emotional development, whether that’s through a calming mindfulness session, a chat around a campfire, or structured interventions for anxiety, self-esteem, and more.
DUTIES
Your duties as Emotional Literacy Support Assistant include:
 1. Deliver high-quality ELSA sessions tailored to students' needs
 2. Run engaging Forest School activities that promote resilience and wellbeing
 3. Support students experiencing anxiety, friendship issues, bereavement, and more
 4. Be a go-to adult offering kindness, structure, and strategies to thrive
 5. Work closely with families, teaching staff, and external agencies
 6. Help shape the whole-school wellbeing culture
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
Essential
 7. ELSA qualification (or willingness to undertake ELSA training)
 8. Forest School Trained (or willingness to undertake this training)
 9. Experience working with children/young people in an educational setting
 10. Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team
 11. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
 12. Empathetic, calm, and nurturing approach
Desirable
 13. Experience in a secondary school environment
 14. Knowledge of mental health, SEND, and child development
 15. First Aid or mental health training ( Youth Mental Health First Aid)
 16. Drawing and talking trained
 17. Understanding of safeguarding procedures in schools
The successful candidate will receive:
 18. A supportive and passionate pastoral team
 19. Ongoing supervision and CPD opportunities
 20. Opportunities to help shape the wellbeing and inclusion vision
 21. A school culture that genuinely values emotional development as much as academic progress
BENEFITS
 22. Welcoming, supportive, friendly and sociable colleagues
 23. A competitive salary and benefits package
 24. Excellent Continuing Professional Development with high quality CPD program
 25. The opportunity to work within a supportive and collaborative team
 26. Ongoing training and development and opportunities for career progression
 27. Free large on-site car park
 28. Good transport links
 29. Workplace Pension Scheme
 30. An amazing rate for staff membership at the modern on-site Leisure Centre
 31. A tax efficient Cycle-to-Work scheme through salary sacrifice
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The school will ensure that all their recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service / DBS checks along with other relevant employment checks.
We reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early.
APPLY TODAY…
By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
JOB REF: AWDO-P13515
Full-Time, Permanent Jobs, Careers and Vacancies. Find a new job and work in Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire. Multi-Job Board Advertising and CV Sourcing Recruitment Services provided by AWD online.
Teaching Assistant / Classroom Assistant / Learning Support / Learning Mentor / Education Jobs / Teaching Support Jobs / Pastoral Support / ELSA / Pupil Wellbeing / SEND
AWD online specialise in sourcing candidates and advertising vacancies on multiple job boards for companies on a non-commission basis. AWD online operates as an employment agency.