Inclusion Mentor

What skills and experience we're looking for

Are you passionate about helping children feel safe, connected and ready to learn?

Do you enjoy helping children develop confidence in communication and interaction?

Are you someone who can bring calm, curiosity and creativity to learning?

At Seaton Primary School we are looking to appoint a caring, reflective and enthusiastic Inclusion Mentor to join our nurturing and inclusive school community.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and develop a relational, child-centred provision for pupils who need additional support with communication, interaction, emotional regulation and engagement with learning. The role will particularly focus on supporting children with communication and interaction needs, including autism, social communication differences and social skills development.

Working closely with our SENCo, teaching staff and wider inclusion team, you will build strong and trusting relationships with pupils and help create an inclusive school environment where children feel safe, understood, successful and able to thrive.

This is a varied, brand-new role and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape and grow with it over time. One moment you may be leading a sensory or social communication session, the next supporting a nurture group, adapting learning through play, or celebrating a breakthrough moment that a child thought they’d never achieve.

The role would particularly suit an experienced Teaching Assistant looking for the next step in their career, someone passionate about SEND and inclusion, or a practitioner who enjoys a play-based, relationship-led approach to learning and thrives in a continuous provision style environment.

We are looking for someone who

• Has experience working with children, particularly those with SEND or additional needs
• Understands the importance of relationships, emotional safety and belonging
• Can build trust and positive relationships with children and families
• Is calm, patient, adaptable and emotionally resilient
• Has strong communication and teamwork skills
• Is passionate about inclusion and making a difference to children’s lives

What the school offers its staff

About the Role

The Inclusion Mentor will work across the school to support pupils with additional needs and barriers to learning linked to communication, interaction and emotional wellbeing.

The role combines pastoral, mentoring and learning support elements and includes delivering tailored 1:1 and group interventions, supporting EHCP provision through adapted strategies and targeted learning support, helping pupils develop social communication, emotional regulation and resilience, and creating calm, structured and predictable spaces where children feel safe and ready to learn.

You will work both within our dedicated non-conventional classroom and regular classroom environments, using relational and restorative approaches to support children who may struggle with transitions, attendance, anxiety or engagement with school. The role also involves working collaboratively with teachers, families and external professionals to help children access learning successfully and feel a genuine sense of belonging within school.

As the provision develops, there will also be opportunities for the role to grow to include aspects of family liaison and wider pastoral support work.

Dedicated Planning and Reflection Time

We recognise the importance of high-quality preparation and reflective practice within this role.

The successful candidate will receive two dedicated planning and preparation sessions each week: one collaborative session with the SENCo to develop provision, share ideas and review pupil support, and one protected session for independent preparation, resource development, organisation and reflective practice.

We want this role to be thoughtful, purposeful and impactful, not simply reactive.

About Us

Seaton Primary School is a warm, inclusive and ambitious primary school located in the beautiful coastal town of Seaton in East Devon, surrounded by beaches, countryside and outdoor learning opportunities.

We are proud of our caring ethos, relational approach and commitment to helping every child flourish academically, socially and emotionally. Our school community is supportive, friendly and collaborative, with staff who genuinely work together, share ideas and value one another’s strengths.

We can offer

• A welcoming and supportive team
• Strong SENCo and leadership support
• Opportunities to help shape and develop an evolving provision
• Ongoing professional development and training
• A meaningful and rewarding role where relationships matter
• A school environment where creativity and nurture are valued alongside high expectations

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.