SEN Education and Pastoral Assistant

Part of the Wensum Trust

Tel: 01603 413946

Email: admin@lodgelane.norfolk.sch.uk and senco@lodgelane.norfolk.sch.uk

Website: https://www.wensumtrust.org.uk/careers/current-vacancies

• Salary - Scale D, £26,428 - £26,847 FTE
• Fixed Term until 31 August 2026
• Part Time
• 32.5 hours per week
• Term Time plus 1 week
• Job Share considered

About this Role

As part of The Wensum Trust, we believe that our shared duty is to help every child to develop into high achieving, confident, healthy, caring and resilient members of their family and community. We want our schools to be healthy environments where both children and staff can develop and where strong, positive relationships are key. Our school, therefore, practices a relational approach with children, our families and our communities. We are particularly interested in working with people who share Our Qualities; who will work effectively and flexibly as part of a team.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young children with special educational needs?

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and passionate person to work as part of a small team of 5, delivering a bespoke curriculum for up to 10 children aged 4–7, with complex needs including Autism. You will work alongside the SENDCo and wider school team. The person will be skilled at taking a lead from the child / children to engage them in learning through a play-based curriculum based on their interests. A good understanding of child development and a play-based approach is essential. You will need to have an understanding of working with children with different or more complex needs.

This role is fixed term until 31 August 2027, term time + 1. Job share will be considered.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dedicated, specialist environment that provides tailored, child-centred learning in a calm, structured setting.

What we offer:

• A warm, collaborative team culture
• Specialist training in ASD strategies and communication tools
• Purpose-built classroom with sensory-friendly resources
• Opportunities for career development within SEN education

We wish to appoint someone who:

• Builds positive relationships with our children (aged 4 -7) and colleagues.
• Shows initiative and enthusiasm and is always kind and caring, supporting the child to settle into school life.
• Is curious about children's behaviour and is keen to develop strategies to support children's behaviour
• Is an excellent team member and has a passion to ensure children stay safe and engaged.
• Is supportive, playful and passionate about working with children.
• Has an understanding of how to support children with different and complex needs.

Being a part of The Wensum Trust’s family of schools offers employees unique experiences to work alongside our strategic partners and to collaborate with a wider network of staff. We believe in investing in employees as individuals, by providing training opportunities that help to develop both existing and new skill sets, to encourage career progression at all levels.

We value our staff and are committed to supporting their wellbeing. We have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which all staff can access 24 hours a day. The EAP provides counselling services, legal information and guidance, musculoskeletal services and online resources such as nutrition diaries, healthy eating plans, personal coaching questionnaires and tools and fitness programmes.

We care about bringing together the most able people, to help us achieve our vision of providing a rounded education for children, quality support for their families and opportunities to enrich our communities.

For further information on this vacancy, please contact Shelley Leggett on - senco@lodgelane.norfolk.sch.uk

How to apply

For this vacancy, if you click on the ‘Apply for Job’ button, you will be redirected to our recruitment website for further information and to apply via the online application form.

Closing date:  3 September 2026, 9am

Interview date:  11 September 2026

The Wensum Trust is committed to safeguarding children and promoting the welfare of children and young people, we expect all trustees, staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Wensum Trust is exempt from the Rehabilitations of Offenders Act 1974 and all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as 'spent' must be declared. All successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service, along with other relevant employment checks, including overseas criminal background checks.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.