Nurture Group Leader - St Swithun's Catholic Primary School at Portsmouth City Council Enterprise

St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School and Preschool is an oversubscribed ‘Good’ inclusive school with a friendly, welcoming environment where every child is valued.

As an Ofsted ‘Good’, inclusive, and Catholic school, we are proud to serve our diverse community of 357 pupils.  We are delighted to be able to recruit an enthusiastic practitioner to work under the leadership of our SENCO with responsibility for leading Nurture provision.  We are looking for an individual who is passionate about inclusion and committed to meeting the needs of all children.  The aim of this provision is to replace missing early experiences by developing positive pupil relationships with teachers and peers in a supportive environment. 

Closing Date:                  9 am 6^th October 2025

Interview Date:             Friday 10^th October 2025

Required Start Date:   ASAP

Contract:                         Permanent, 39 weeks term time only 

Hours:                              8.30 am – 12.30 pm, Monday to Friday

Salary Details:                Band 6, £28,239 - £32,061 FTE, £13,238 - £15,030 pro-rata

Vacancy Information

This position would suit an HLTA, learning mentor, cover supervisor or teaching assistant with a proven track record of exceptional practice, who is able to work with vulnerable pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties (SEMH). It would suit someone who is passionate about making a real difference to children’s life chances and supporting them in achieving their potential in essential life skills.

We are looking for a team-player with presence, resilience and a commitment to inclusion with the ability to work creatively for the benefit of pupils at our school.

We are looking for a Nurture HLTA with an enthusiastic and positive outlook, who will demonstrate high-quality teaching. As part of our energetic and welcoming team, you will enthuse and motivate children to strive for success while maintaining an inspiring and enabling learning environment.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• To work in the development of the nurture group in accordance with nurture group principles to ensure that barriers to learning are reduced and to support students achieve their full potential.
• To take a supporting role in monitoring to ensure that the school’s systems for promoting positive behaviour and attitudes to learning are effective.
• To support the planning and deliver engaging and motivating experiences relevant to the nurture group principles (children’s learning is understood developmentally; the classroom offers a safe base; nurture is important for the development of self-esteem; language is understood as a vital means of communication; all behaviour is communication; transitions are significant in the lives of children).
• To support in developing an appropriate, broad, balanced, relevant, differentiated and challenging curriculum to all pupils appropriate to their needs.
• To provide support for a named group of children (approx. 6 pupils, usually YR-3) through a carefully structured timetable that balances learning, affection, and structure within a caring home-like atmosphere.
• To regularly review progress and monitor the integration of all nurture group pupils within the mainstream classrooms with the support of the SENCO.
• Whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries between adults and children, establish secure and trusting relationships with pupils to facilitate their learning and development.

We can offer you:

• A dedicated leadership team who will support and develop you as well as promoting a positive work-life balance
• A close team of like-minded professionals wanting the best for all children
• Fantastic children who are ready to be inspired
• Supportive families who want to work with you
• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• The chance to make a real difference to the lives of our pupils and their families

Application Procedure

Visits to the school are strongly encouraged.  Please telephone the school office on 023 9282 9339 to arrange a visit or email [email protected]. Please apply using the application form and submit by email, or post to School Business Manager, St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School, Taswell Road, Southsea PO5 2RG.  You will need to demonstrate that you have a Right to Work in the UK.  No post will be offered without it.

Safer Recruitment

Portsmouth City Council & St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level, and any other background checks, including overseas checks will be required prior to any offer of employment.  This advert is in no way exhaustive and we welcome queries about this post via email to [email protected] or via the telephone, 023.9282.9339. 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

As part of any recruitment process, St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. St Swithun’s Catholic Primary School is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).  Completing and sending an application in for a vacancy is your consent for us to process your data for the purpose of recruitment. Your data is not used in any other way and you can withdraw your consent at any point in the recruitment process and we will destroy or delete your information. For more detailed information on what we collect, how we use, store, delete data and your rights you can access a privacy statement on our web site. 

We would like to thank you in advance for your application however please note we will only contact those applicants shortlisted for interview.

Job Description

Person Specification

Application Form