Are you passionate about supporting the emotional wellbeing and safeguarding of children? Marden Lodge Primary School & Nursery are seeking a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our team on a part time, temporary basis to cover maternity leave. Working closely with the Inclusion Lead, Headteacher, and Designated Safeguarding Lead, you will play a vital role in overseeing pastoral care and ensuring the safety and emotional development of pupils across the school. Your Opportunity This temporary opportunity offers a rewarding chance to make a real difference in the lives of children with a range of social, emotional, and mental health needs. You’ll be at the heart of the school’s pastoral provision, supporting pupils both one-to-one and in small groups, helping them navigate challenges and build resilience. As Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, you’ll play a key role in safeguarding practices, working closely with staff, families, and external agencies. The role requires a nurturing, emotionally intelligent practitioner with a Thrive Licence (or working towards accreditation), who can create a calm, structured environment and lead targeted interventions that support children’s wellbeing and reintegration into the classroom. What we are looking for Thrive Licence (or working towards accreditation) and DSL trained or willing to train Proven experience in leading pastoral support and safeguarding for children Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build trust with pupils, staff, and families Ability to motivate and engage children, especially those with complex SEMH and SEND needs Excellent organisational skills, including record-keeping, time management, and task prioritisation Empathetic, professional, and resilient, with a genuine passion for supporting vulnerable children About Marden Lodge Primary School & Nursery, part of the Chalklands Cluster Our School sits within an established cluster of Primary schools, overseen by a Regional Director. Along with, our cluster includes the following other schools; Chestnut Park Primary School, Whyteleafe Primary School, Warlingham Village Primary School and Hillcroft Primary School. This is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively with colleagues across this cluster, to share expertise and experience, ensuring all children in our schools receive an excellent education and reach their potential. It also provides opportunities for career progression across the cluster and gives you the chance to further your professional development. Join the GLF Schools Community As a part of GLF Schools, you will join a community of staff dedicated to transforming education. With regular progression discussions, there will be a wealth of opportunities for you to grow your career, whether in one of our 43 academies or in our central team. A growing Multi Academy Trust with over 2,000 colleagues and over 17,000 pupils Founded upon the values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity and Kindness 43 primary and secondary schools across 7 Local Authority areas across the south of England We work as a community whilst ensuring each school maintains its own unique identity Committed to ensuring all children and young people receive the best possible education GLF Schools Employment Offer GLF Schools has a generous employment offer, which allows all our colleagues to Grow, Learn and Flourish Access to our highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme Flexible working options Generous holiday allowance Work life and family friendly policies Employee wellbeing initiatives Access to a staff benefits portal Community and collaboration working model Please read the attached Join Our Community candidate pack for further information. The Details Start Date: 21st October 2025 Salary: GLF Associate Specialist - £26,272 Actual Salary: £18,020.14 Hours of work: 29hrs per week Closing Date: 8th October Interview date: TBA