About Little Grove Learning:
Little Grove Learning is a new specialist alternative provision opening in September 2026. This is an exciting opportunity to join our founding team and help shape the provision from the very beginning.
Little Grove is a nurturing alternative provision in Abington, for children who are unable to access a mainstream setting. Our approach is based on the belief that emotional safety, regulation and connection must come first before learning can happen. We aim to create a calm, relational and low-demand environment, where children feel understood, supported and able to re-engage with education at their own pace through child-led play and interactions.
Job Description:
We are looking for an experienced Practitioner, Learning Mentor, Teaching Assistant or SEND Support Worker with a passion for supporting pupils aged 5-11, with social interaction difficulties, including PDA and EBSA. Are you nurturing, understanding and resilient? Do you want to feel valued, supported and part of a team?
Little Grove is a new independent alternative provision offering a bespoke curriculum focused on learning through play. The low-demand environment, with a focus on child-led learning and sensory spaces where children feel safe and supported, is central to our provision. Your role will involve maintaining an inclusive, supportive and adaptive environment, facilitating the implementation of the bespoke curriculum offer and using a range of SEND strategies to support our pupils to access their environment and feel ready to learn again, Our creative, individualised approach is centred around the needs and well-being of each child and developing their social, emotional and independent skills, with a focus on positive outcomes, including reintegration where appropriate.
We are looking for knowledgeable, enthusiastic, adaptable learning mentors, who are open to learning new approaches to supporting children with Autism, PDA and EBSA. The right candidate needs to be passionate about achieving the best for the pupils who attend our alternative provision and about making a positive difference. Your role will require you to work in a small team and 1:1, ensuring the daily needs of the pupil are met.
We understand the importance of building meaningful relationships with pupils and their families to nurture growth and development of relational milestones such as, building trust and sharing enjoyment. Creating a sense of belonging and safety, are at the heart of our ethos and we work hard to ensure that all staff feel cared for too. We are strongly committed to providing high quality professional development for all our staff. The wellbeing of our staff is an important priority therefore we provide opportunities to ensure we value their hard work and dedication and promote a healthy work-life balance.
Key Responsibilities:
· To supervise and provide particular support for SEND pupils either 1:1 or 1:2 or in a small group, ensuring their well-being, safety, self-care and access to the learning activities.
· To prepare, maintain and use equipment/resources required to meet the needs of the pupils and ensure an engaging and purposeful environment.
· Maintain high expectations, whilst supporting pupils at their individual level
· Support children to develop emotional regulation through co-regulation, sensory-informed practice and relationship-based approaches.
· Implement a consistent, nurturing and relational culture and ethos of the provision
· To assist with the development and implementation of Individual Plans and Intimate Care Plans
· To promote the inclusion and acceptance of all pupils
· To observe, record and share achievements of the pupils in the provision with key adults and parents/carers
· Promote and safeguard the welfare of all children attending Little Grove at all times.
· Reporting to the Head of Provision with any safeguarding concerns and adhering to the behaviour policy
This is a full-time position, starting at £24,688 per annum, including a 6-month probationary period.
Benefits:
As a team member at Little Grove, you'll enjoy:
20 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Flexible annual leave arrangements, including opportunities to take leave outside traditional school holiday periods
Predictable working hours of 8:00am–4:00pm
Branded Little Grove uniform provided (polo shirts and fleece)
Ongoing professional development and specialist SEND training
SENCO and Teacher-led professional support and mentoring
A calm, nurturing and well-resourced working environment
A supportive and collaborative team culture
Opportunities to help shape and grow a specialist alternative provision from the beginning
A strong focus on staff wellbeing and work-life balance
Safeguarding:
Little Grove is committed to Safeguarding therefore, all employees working at this school must have the ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of our children and young people. All applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding checks appropriate to the post, including checks with Disclosure & Barring Service and employment references. We will request references from where you have worked with either children or adults at risk. Please be aware that references will be requested prior to interview for roles within our schools and that online searches will be completed on all shortlisted candidates in line with the provisions of Keeping Children Safe in Education. This post involves contact with children and young people considered to be at risk and therefore post holders will be engaging in regulated activity.
If you would like to find out more information about the provision, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact us on the email provided below:
[email protected]
More information can also be found on our website.
As an equal opportunities employer, Little Grove is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees. We are a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.
Person Specification:
- Experience of working with children with a range of special education needs and disabilities.
- Committed to the role and be able to work with children who have varied needs.
- Knowledge of EYFS, specifically around Continuous Provision and child led play
- Capable of building relationships with the pupils and be willing to be flexible to support their specific needs
- Willing to undergo specific training from outside agencies in order to support the children with specific areas of need.
- Must be able to work in an adaptive way to ensure children are able to be part of the child-led play and environment.
- Able to communicate effectively with parents, outside agencies and professionals.
Essential Criteria:
- Level 2/3 qualification in Supporting Teaching and Learning, Childcare, Early Years or equivalent
- Recent experience working within an EYFS/KS1/KS2 or a SEND provisions
- SEND training/qualifications
- Ability to build positive relationships with pupils, staff and parents
- A caring, patient and proactive approach to supporting children's learning and engagement
- Two satisfactory professional references
- Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (or willingness to apply for one)
- Right to work in the UK
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working with children with special educational needs, including Autism and PDA profiles.
Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small team
- Able to communicate effectively with a range of professionals
- Well organised and practical
- Calm under pressure
- Able to form and maintain appropriate professional relationships and boundaries with children and parents
- Able to implement a range of Teaching and Learning strategies, specifically related to SEND.
- Able to deal with sensitive information in a confidential manner
- Able to keep up to date records of learning and outcomes
- Observe and report to the head of provision on pupil performance
- Prompt and reliable
- Prepared to undergo training appropriate to the post
- Have a caring and positive nature
Contact/application information:
We are currently recruiting ahead of our September 2026 opening. To apply, please submit your CV via Indeed. Following receipt and review of your CV, suitable candidates will be sent a Little Grove Application Form to complete as part of our safer recruitment process.
Little Grove is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, satisfactory references and safer recruitment procedures.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £24,668.00-£26,201.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
Application question(s):
- Please briefly describe your experience supporting children with SEND, SEMH, autism, ADHD or challenging behaviour.
- Do you hold a Level 2 or Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification or equivalent?
Experience:
- Working with children: 1 year (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
