How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So, whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job title: Pastoral Support Worker
Location: Smallbrook School, Shrewsbury, SY4 3HE
Salary: £25,500 per annum (Not pro rata)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 08:45 - 16:20
Contract: Permanent, Term time only
Start Date: December 2025
UK Applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
At Smallbrook School, we do more than teach – we nurture, empower, and champion young people with diverse and complex needs. As part of our continued growth, we’re thrilled to offer a fantastic opportunity for a passionate Pastoral Support Worker to join our dedicated and close-knit team.
This isn’t just a job. It’s a mission: to create a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment where every pupil is heard, respected, and supported to thrive — academically, emotionally, and socially.
About the Role
As a Pastoral Support Worker, you’ll play a vital role in the daily life of our school, becoming a trusted adult and a calm, consistent presence for our students. You’ll work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, families, and external professionals to break down barriers to learning, promote positive behaviours, and champion the wellbeing of every child in your care.
What You’ll Be Doing:
* Reporting to SLT on patterns in pupil behaviour and contributing to whole-school strategies for wellbeing and behaviour.
* Supporting students with reintegration following absences or incidents — helping them feel safe, seen, and supported.
* Implementing positive behaviour support strategies and modelling effective interventions.
* Using our online behaviour management system to accurately log and monitor pupil progress.
* Responding swiftly to on-call requests to provide in-class support when needed.
* Collaborating with teaching staff to maintain consistent approaches to engagement and regulation.
* Helping students meet personal goals and build their confidence, self-regulation, and independence.
* Acting as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Person and championing a strong safeguarding culture.
* Sharing best practice and supporting CPD, helping to shape a staff team that is confident, capable, and compassionate.
Who We’re Looking For:
We’re looking for someone who brings more than just experience — we’re looking for someone with heart.
You’ll thrive in this role if you are:
* Deeply passionate about supporting young people with additional needs.
* Calm under pressure and quick to respond with empathy and professionalism.
* A natural communicator who builds strong relationships with students, staff, and families.
* A reflective practitioner, always looking to grow, learn, and improve.
* Resilient, reliable, and ready to be a role model every day.
About us
Smallbrook School is a co-educational day school based halfway between Shrewsbury and Wem in Shropshire. We are currently expanding our capacity from 50 to 80 students, with significant investment in our site to develop our KS2 and sixth form provision.
We cater to pupils aged 7–18 with a range of complex needs, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, as well as those diagnosed with autism or displaying behaviours associated with autism.
At Smallbrook, we provide a therapeutic, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, committed to raising achievement and enabling pupils to recognise and reach their potential. Through a personalised and engaging curriculum, we focus on developing the foundational knowledge and skills that ensure a smooth and manageable transition to the next stage of life.
Acorn Education is the UK’s leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Why join Acorn Education?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
* Life Assurance
* Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
* “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
* A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
* 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
* Cycle to Work Schemes
* Electric Car Purchase Scheme
* Critical illness cover
* Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
* One Moment In Time
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales
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