Hours: 32.25 hours per week Term-Time only (38 weeks) Start Date: September 2025 About the Role Higham Lane School is delighted to welcome applications for the post of Pastoral Support Assistant (Special Needs) Higham Lane is a large, 11-18 comprehensive academy, set on an attractive site on the Warwickshire-Leicestershire border, easily accessible due to excellent road, train and bus connections. Achievement in all its forms: artistic, academic, social, cultural, sporting and intellectual is equally valued in our diverse seven-year, knowledge-rich curriculum. We were extremely pleased to have been rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2019, one of only a small number of schools in England to have achieved the highest rating that year. We are strongly committed to ensuring that all of the young people in our care make excellent academic progress and we take great pride in securing both impressive progress and high attainment for our students, whatever their starting points. Higham Lane is amongst the highest-achieving non-selective comprehensive schools in Warwickshire and nationally. We are also delighted to have achieved impressive A level results in our high-performing Sixth Form. Our progress figures indicate that our teaching and learning and student behaviour and engagement are excellent! We are excited by the opportunities which our recent merger with the Central England Academy Trust will bring us and are also delighted that the Department for Education has given us permission to open a new secondary Free School, Higham Lane North Academy, within the next few years. In July 2021, we were granted World Class Schools status, one of a very small number of schools to achieve this. Our school has a strong ethos based on mutual respect between students and staff and very clear expectations regarding students’ effort and behaviour. We enjoy an excellent reputation with parents/carers and are always over-subscribed. You will find a happy, caring and purposeful environment at Higham Lane. Students get on exceptionally well, both with each other and with our staff, who take pride in working here. Our students are encouraged to do their very best in every aspect of their lives and to reach the highest standards, irrespective of their ability. We encourage them to “Be the best you can be!” At Higham Lane, our staff are our most precious resource. We are committed to offering you: excellent continuous professional development reduced workload behaviour for learning that empowers teachers to teach and students to learn a range of imaginative approaches to ensure staff wellbeing free, onsite parking subsidised eye care for extended VDU users a Gym Membership Scheme a Cycle to Work Scheme free lunch for duty staff an Employee Assistance Programme, providing practical and emotional support an Employee Benefits Scheme, offering discounts on everyday essentials Key Requirements Applications are invited from suitably-qualified and enthusiastic individuals to assist with the physical needs, welfare and care of students with special needs. BROAD DESCRIPTION: Assist with the physical needs, welfare and care of students with special needs. Carry out individual programmes as agreed with the SENDCO and external agencies. The post receives direction from and is accountable to the SENDCO. RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS: The post has considerable direct impact on the well-being of individuals or groups through either providing appropriate care or welfare for those who are personally dependant on the post for personal care as well as their emotional wellbeing. RESPONSIBILITY FOR STAFF : The post has no direct responsibility for supervising other staff though may be expected to demonstrate tasks or advise/guide other members of the Support for Learning Team and teaching staff. RESPONSIBILITY FOR PHYSICAL RESOURCES: The post has direct responsibility for physical resources, such as postural chairs, walking frames, standing frames as well as the handling and careful use of equipment (e.g. computer/PC). TYPICAL TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Personal Care Provide and support with personal care of children with physical disabilities, including, changing, toileting, showering, washing, dressing and undressing, care of clothes, personal hygiene. Lift, communicate inter-actively, make drinks, feed, supervise students at appropriate times (e.g. lunchtime). Administer prescribed medication to students in accordance with school policies and individual care plans. Personal Mobility Help with educational visits, transferring from one activity to another, supporting physical activities (e.g. PE, swimming etc). Supporting students to transfer from wheelchairs in to either a standing frame or walker. Supervise students when they are using their walker or when they are in their standing frame. Required to perform basic stretching exercises (as shown by the physiotherapy team) with students on a daily basis. Communication Contacting parents/carers on a weekly basis. Be the main contact when liaising with outside agencies such as IDS, physiotherapy, occupational therapy. Keeping records contact and informing SENDCO. Other Tasks Undertake admin tasks as appropriate. Plan, prepare and deliver social skills intervention. Plan, prepare and deliver emotional literacy intervention. Support students when required who may be suffering from anxiety. Support the School: Understand and comply with the school policies and procedures. Contribute to the overall ethos/aims of the school. Attend and participate in meetings and participate in training and other learning activities as and when required. Note: These are broad descriptions of the types of duties/activities expected of a post at this level, for illustrative purposes. They are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of duties. How to Apply Please apply by clicking https://centralenglandacademytrust.faceed.co.uk/vacancies Alternatively please visit our school website (www.highamlaneschool.co.uk) and click on ‘Job Vacancies’. The deadline is 9am on Monday 14 th July 2025. Interviews likely to take place later that week. What the school has to offer At Higham Lane, our staff are our most precious resource. We are committed to offering you: • Competitive remuneration package; • A generous defined benefit pension scheme; • Excellent continuous professional development; • Bespoke training and support from the Trust team to meet your needs; • We provide a supportive Employee Assistance Programme, providing practical and emotional support • Employee benefits scheme, offering discount on every day and lifestyle essentials. • Free, onsite parking • Subsidised eye care for extended users of VDU. • Gym memberships scheme • Cycle to work scheme Additional Information section: Please note our clear expectations regarding personal and professional conduct of staff and the safeguarding of students: To have total regard for the need to safeguards students' wellbeing, in accordance with statutory provisions. To have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality. To have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and will also be taken through the School's vetting procedure. Higham Lane School is also strongly committed to protecting personal data. Our Privacy Notice, which can be found under the GDPR section on the School website, describes why and how we collect and use personal data and provides information about individuals’ rights