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Job Title: Inclusion Manager
Location: Groveside School, Reading, RG2 7AY
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday – Friday
Salary: £30,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available
About the Role
Are you passionate about safeguarding, pastoral care and helping young people overcome barriers to learning and thrive?
At Groveside School, we’re looking for a dedicated and resilient Pastoral & Safeguarding Lead to play a key role in ensuring our pupils feel safe, supported, understood and ready to learn.
This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced pastoral professional who can combine strong safeguarding knowledge with a genuine passion for building positive relationships. You’ll lead on safeguarding and pupil welfare, support staff with effective behaviour strategies and provide a calm, consistent presence for young people who may need additional support.
You’ll work closely with pupils, families, teaching staff and the wider multidisciplinary team, using your expertise and behaviour data to identify needs, strengthen pastoral practice and help every young person make positive progress.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead effective safeguarding, pastoral and pupil welfare strategies, ensuring the safety and emotional wellbeing of all pupils.
- Act as a key Designated Safeguarding Lead, managing concerns, referrals, records, meetings and staff safeguarding training.
- Monitor behaviour, safeguarding and incident trends, using data to identify needs and inform positive interventions.
- Provide guidance on Positive Behaviour Profiles, Behaviour Support Plans and positive handling, helping staff develop consistent and effective approaches.
- Build strong, restorative relationships with pupils, providing direct support during periods of crisis or difficulty.
- Work collaboratively with families, social care, education professionals and multidisciplinary teams to achieve positive outcomes.
- Lead pastoral briefings and support staff to develop high-quality pastoral practice.
- Oversee rewards and points systems, community projects and opportunities such as on-site work experience.
What you will bring
- Experienced in pastoral care, safeguarding and supporting young people with additional needs.
- A qualified or experienced Designated Safeguarding Lead, with a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures and legislation.
- Calm, resilient and approachable, with the ability to respond confidently to challenging situations.
- Highly organised with excellent administration and record-keeping skills.
- Skilled at building trusting relationships with pupils, families and colleagues.
- A strong communicator who can motivate others and promote positive pastoral practice.
- Creative, solution-focused and able to bring out the best in young people.
- Someone who can thrive in a dynamic environment while maintaining a sense of humour and perspective.
About Us
Groveside School is a Special Educational Needs School for Pupils 7 - 16 years old with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs. Our school opened in September 2024 and will cater for 60 pupils.
To the ideal candidate, Groveside School offers the following opportunities:
- To work in a school that is passionate about all achievement for all pupils.
- To work with fantastic pupils who enjoy a dynamic and engaging curriculum.
- To begin your journey with a strong induction programme tailored to your experience and needs.
- To engage collaboratively within a very supportive environment where professional development is an essential aspect of our daily practice.
- To develop your career.
- To be committed to creating exceptional pupil experiences and learning for all.
Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.
We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the 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.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
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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