Education Support Worker

Can you build trusted relationships and help children and young people reconnect with learning?

Positif Education is seeking an experienced practitioner to facilitate ReEngage and support learners aged 8–18. You will deliver practical learning, individual and group support and workshops that help learners build wellbeing and make meaningful progress.

Working across our education provisions, school and community settings, you will tailor support with teachers, programme leads, families and partner professionals.

Salary: £26,001–£32,000

Contractual hours: 40 hours per week

Basis: Permanent

Location: Across Positif Education provisions, including ReEngage, school and community settings

Reports to: Educational Operations Manager (proposed)

DBS Required: Enhanced DBS; see appointment requirements

Date posted: 22/10/2026

Closing date: 05/11/2026

About Us

Positif Education provides tailored education and holistic support for children and young people aged 8–18 through part-time or full-time placements. We support learners in care, those excluded from education and those with complex needs, learning difficulties or neurodivergent profiles.

Our provision includes Ynys Hywel specialist school for social, emotional and behavioural difficulties; the Vocational Skills Centre, offering City & Guilds construction qualifications; ReEngage community-based learning; and Positif Adventures, providing outdoor education and adventurous activities.

The Role

To facilitate ReEngage and help learners across Positif Education engage, build wellbeing and resilience and achieve meaningful outcomes. Through trusted relationships and a youth-led approach, the post holder will deliver practical curriculum support, accredited learning, pastoral interventions and issue-based workshops, individually and in groups. Working with internal and external partners, they will tailor support to learners’ ages, needs, interests and aspirations and help them move successfully into, between and beyond provision.

The proposed reporting line is to the Educational Operations Manager, working closely with headteachers, leads and managers.

We are looking for an experienced, innovative and dedicated practitioner who can build relationships, turn ideas into purposeful activities and demonstrate the difference their support makes for children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

1. LEARNING & QUALIFICATIONS

● Plan purposeful learning, projects and enrichment with teachers and programme leads. Contribute to initial assessments and learning plans.

● Adapt support to learner starting points, Additional Learning Needs and Individual Development Plans, embedding literacy, numeracy, digital, communication, teamwork and independence skills.

● Support eligible learners through DofE, King’s Trust and other approved programmes: plan activities, gather portfolio evidence, track milestones and liaise with assessors and quality assurance staff to support completion.

2. WELLBEING & WORKSHOPS

● Build trusting relationships, act as an agreed key contact and set goals with learners. Deliver 1:1 and group support to develop confidence, emotional awareness and regulation, resilience, positive relationships and readiness to learn.

● Create accessible, age-appropriate workshops based on learner need, including relationships and boundaries, bullying, online safety, exploitation, wellbeing, identity and equality.

● Use relational, trauma-informed approaches and agreed behaviour and de-escalation plans. Recognise progress, review learner feedback and adapt support. Escalate or refer specialist needs or distress appropriately.

3. ENGAGEMENT, TRANSITIONS & PARTNERSHIPS

● Facilitate ReEngage and agreed engagement activity within programme eligibility. Address barriers to attendance and participation through agreed re-engagement plans.

● Support visits, induction, reintegration and age-appropriate next steps in education, training or employment, using clear plans, named contacts, effective handovers and agreed follow-up.

● Work with families, carers, care colleagues, schools, local authorities and other professionals. Contribute to reviews, share progress evidence and recommendations, and develop community links, taster sessions, referrals and ideas to strengthen provision. Represent Positif Education positively and accurately.

4. SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION

● Recognise, record and report safeguarding concerns promptly under Positif Education and setting procedures.

● Maintain professional boundaries and follow the safeguarding procedures of Positif Education and the setting in which you are working. Escalate concerns through the agreed reporting arrangements.

5. HEALTH, SAFETY & INCLUSION

● Contribute to and follow individual and activity risk assessments, including 1:1 work, community activities, visits, transport and lone working.

● Promote inclusion, challenge discrimination and bullying, respect dignity and make agreed adjustments.

6. PROGRESS RECORDS & EVALUATION

● Keep timely, accurate attendance, session, goal, progress and achievement records, including follow-up actions. Use approved systems and authorised information-sharing channels, following confidentiality and data protection procedures.

● Provide evidence for reviews, portfolios, transitions, evaluation and inspection. Measure progress from individual starting points, distinguish observations from assumptions, identify stalled progress and recommend changes.

7. TEAMWORK & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

● Agree priorities and a manageable caseload, balancing direct support, preparation, recording and travel. Work flexibly across provisions within competence, staffing and supervision arrangements, maintaining learner continuity and raising competing demands.

● Participate in supervision, appraisal, reflection and relevant training. Develop engaging resources, share effective practice and propose improvements.

● Undertake reasonable duties consistent with the post.

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

Qualifications & Professional Registration

● A relevant Level 3 qualification in education support, youth work, health and social care or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience with willingness to complete agreed training. Any mandatory qualification requirements for the assigned duties must still be met.

● Hold and maintain Education Workforce Council registration in the category or categories required for the assigned duties before undertaking work that requires registration. Positif Education will confirm the applicable category and essential training before deployment.

Experience

● Relevant experience supporting children or young people in education, alternative provision, youth work, care, community services or a comparable setting, including learners facing barriers to engagement.

● Evidence of improving outcomes through direct work, with the ability to explain the learner’s starting point, the support provided and the progress achieved.

● Experience planning and delivering purposeful 1:1 and group work, and confidence facilitating engaging discussions, workshops or practical learning activities.

Skills, Knowledge & Approach

● Ability to adapt support for learners aged 8–18, taking account of development, Additional Learning Needs, neurodiversity, communication and social or emotional needs.

● Sound safeguarding knowledge, professional boundaries and judgement, including knowing when and how to record, report and escalate concerns.

● Ability to motivate learners, respond calmly to distress or behaviour that challenges, and maintain respectful, consistent expectations.

● Strong communication and partnership skills, including working with families, colleagues and external professionals.

● Effective planning, digital skills and accurate record keeping, with the ability to manage agreed priorities, monitor progress and follow through on actions.

● Commitment to inclusive practice, learner voice, reflective supervision and continuing development; ability to work across the agreed sites and community settings, with reasonable adjustments where required.

Desirable Requirements

● Experience supporting DofE, King’s Trust programmes or other accredited personal development, employability or vocational learning, including portfolio evidence.

● Knowledge of the Curriculum for Wales, Additional Learning Needs and Individual Development Plans, and experience in ReEngage or similar alternative education provision.

● Experience of pastoral interventions, issue based workshops, attendance support, transitions, outreach or community partnerships.

● Relevant assessor, teaching or training, youth work, mentoring, DofE, outdoor learning or first aid qualifications; Welsh language skills.

WHAT WE OFFER

• 28 days annual leave
• Professional Development opportunities
• Supervision & Team Support
• Varied Education Settings - ReEngage, school and community-based learning
• Meaningful work - help learners build confidence, re-engage and make progress

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply through the Indeed job advert. Include your CV and a covering letter (no more than two pages) outlining how your experience meets the requirements of this role.

In your covering letter, please describe your experience of supporting children or young people who face barriers to learning. Include an example of the learner’s starting point, the support you provided and the progress achieved, and explain your approach to relational, trauma-informed practice.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Positif Education is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates and are committed to inclusive practice.

SAFEGUARDING & APPOINTMENT REQUIREMENTS

Positif Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment is subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, identity and right to work checks, qualification checks and an enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List information where the duties meet the eligibility requirements.

The post holder must hold and maintain Education Workforce Council registration in the category or categories required for their duties before undertaking work that requires registration. Positif Education will confirm the applicable category and any essential training before deployment.

Pay: £26,001.00-£32,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person