
Pastoral Support Assistant

We are looking for a Pastoral Support Assistant to support, assist and enable children to meet their academic and social targets.
Your opportunity
You will improve standards of achievement by the early removal of barriers to learning, helping to narrow the gap between the most advantaged and disadvantaged young people and families within our academy. You will be responsible for family liaison support, including developing relationships with families that have problems accessing services, families needing additional support, and for community links. Your duties will include:
- Providing emotional support for vulnerable children and families including being a listening ear and 1:1 support;
- Developing parental participation in the school and community;
- Leading on first aid provision and policy, including maintaining records on appropriate training for staff;
- Leading on managing the team of mid-day assistants, including timetables and rotas, training and performance management;
- Supporting the family and pupil support worker in any aspects of the role and in her absence, assume this responsibility;
- Maintenance of Health Care Plans and liaison with parents/carers to ensure emergency medication held in school is in date.
As part of Harris, you will join a community of staff dedicated to transforming education in London. With regular progression opportunities and outstanding CPD for support staff, there will be a wealth of opportunities for you to grow your career, whether at Harris Academy Riverside, in one of our other 48 academies, or in our central team. Our aim is to help you achieve your ambitions more quickly.
What we are looking for
We look for talented individuals who want to be a part of transforming education in London, and helping create exceptional places of learning.
Please download the job pack for a full job description and person specification.
About Harris Academy Riverside
Located in Purfleet, Thurrock, Harris Academy Riverside serves a dedicated school community within vibrant, purpose-built building. We seek to develop both staff and students who are successful, confident and happy. Providing adequate professional development opportunities as well as ensuring you are part of a dedicated, open team of staff.
To become inspirational is a process of self development; it is to engage in something which is both a process of education and a process of educating; to develop to be and act as a role model; to develop to be someone who inspires. This is the process of self development we expect of our staff and our students.
Through our dedicated SLT Team, federation network and staff policies, we are committed to providing the experience of exceptional teaching development. We aim to promote a strong sense of community and belonging, to provide a blend of high challenge and high support and to encourage the development of teachers, support staff and the wider community.
Academy Vision
Harris Academy Riverside seeks to develop students who are successful, confident and happy, who inspire their community and act with kindness and compassion towards others.
Through a blend of high challenge and strong support, we encourage the development of
- Outstanding habits of behaviour such as self-awareness, kindness, appreciation, humility, politeness, confident self-expression and self-presentation and
- Outstanding habits of learning such as determination, resilience, organisation, reading, studying and practice.
Next Steps
Please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your online application.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact us via e-mail, or call to arrange a conversation.
Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and this job may be withdrawn without notice. Applications will only be considered if submitted online and before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Our Benefits Package
In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package.
Find out more about Our Benefits
Being a part of the Harris Federation
We are recognised as the top performing large multi-academy trust in England for primary and secondary education. Closing the gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers has always been a core mission of Harris. Holding a reputation for bringing transformative approaches to education, we hold a unrivalled track record in achieving success through rapid school improvement.
Our people are at the heart of this success. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of training programmes available at every stage of your career.
We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.
Learn more About Harris and our Vision and Values
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.
Read our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
Diversity and Equality
We are committed to equality and to valuing diversity as an employer and a provider of education.

Harris Academy Riverside
Thurrock
- Mainstream school with state - free school funding
- Secondary with sixth form
- Students of mixed gender, age 11 - 18 years
Harris Academy Riverside is a brand new secondary school opening in September 2017. The Academy will offer education with drive and ambition, and a culture where all students are treated as individuals.
Our first 120 children will be uniquely advanta...