Key Role Information

Salary
£FTE: £45,751.00 to FTE: £47,362.00 (actual salary: £39,350.26 to £40,735.88)
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
12/06/2026 12:00
Interview
17 June 2026
Start
1 September 2026
Contract term
TTO - Term time only
Pay grade
Support Pay Scale - ESSS | SCP32 - SCP33
Department
LEAD
Key stage
Early Years, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2
Hours per week
37.00
Weeks per year
39.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Heron Park Primary Academy is looking to recruit a committed Welfare Manager on a permanent, full-time, term-time only basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference as our Welfare Manager, leading on safeguarding and pupil wellbeing and championing a nurturing, inclusive environment where every child can thrive. You will be a key figure in supporting children and families, ensuring barriers to learning are addressed with care, compassion and expertise.

We would love to hear from you if you:

  • are educated to A Level or equivalent
  • have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and professionals
  • are able to build positive, trusting relationships with pupils, parents, and external agencies
  • are calm, resilient and able to respond sensitively to complex and sometimes challenging situations
  • are enthusiastic and committed to working as part of a team
  • are committed to promoting the welfare, wellbeing and inclusion of all pupils
  • are proactive and able to use your initiative to support children in overcoming barriers to learning

In return for your passion and commitment, we offer:

  • A supportive team who place our values of Respect, Curiosity, Independence, Resilience, and Aspiration at the centre of all that we do with a commitment to raising pupil achievement and aspirations
  • Extensive professional development opportunities, including Aurora Trust-wide CPD
  • A spacious well-equipped and well-resourced learning environment
  • A skilled and committed SLT who are devoted to improving outcomes for all children and staff
  • The opportunity to be part of a multi-academy trust that has collaboration at its heart and will support you every step of the way
  • Enhanced paternity leave, in excess of the Green and Burgundy Books
  • Aurora Academies Advantage scheme - this includes access to free and confidential advice on a range of topics via the Employee Assistance Programme, online GP service, cycle to work scheme, discounts to high-street shops and health and well-being support

If you are interested in finding out more, we strongly suggest that you arrange a tour of the school - please contact Yvonne Streeter, Office Manager, on office@heronppa.org.uk or 01323 502525.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive suitable applications. Therefore, we recommend submitting you application as soon as possible.

Please note that we can only accept applications submitted through our recruitment platform, SAMPeople Recruit, so kindly apply there.

Qualifications

Educated to A Level or equivalent experience or qualification, e.g. NVQessential
Record of recent professional developmentessential
Holder of Designated Safeguarding Lead training accreditation desirable
Holder of a National Professional Qualification for Leadership (e.g. NPQML, NPQSL, NPQH)desirable

Skills

Abilities, Skills and Knowledge

Excellent interpersonal skillsessential
Resilience, the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlinesessential
Ability to create and maintain an appropriate environment which ensures the safety of all users of the schoolessential
Excellent communication (written, oral, and presentation skills)essential
Excellent self-awareness and ability to manage selfessential
Willingness to learn from others and both seek and take adviceessential

Experience

A demonstrable track record in working with, and impacting positively on, Safeguarding and Welfareessential
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and interpersonally with a broad range of peopleessential
Ability to work with confidential, sensitive and challenging issues and organise workloads when under pressures of time and conflicting priorities, to demonstrate resilienceessential
A detailed knowledge and understanding of KCSiE and all legislation relating to child protection and school attendanceessential
Detailed knowledge of effective safeguarding practices in actionessential
A detailed knowledge and understanding of the education system and the Aurora Academies Trust provisionessential
A background in education, social work, child protection, or health careessential
Teaching experience in EYFS, KS1 or KS2essential
Proven track record in bringing about improvement in pupil outcomesessential
Experience of, and a detailed understanding of, external quality assurance processes such as Ofstedessential
Experience of working with children/young people and families and a commitment to the principles of inclusionessential
Experience of effective electronic record keeping and competent in the use of technology to manage the organisationessential
Successful involvement with, and management of effective planning and target settingessential
Ability to assimilate, analyse and action information from a variety of sourcesessential
Ability to use pupil data to set aspirational and challenging targetsessential
Ability to contribute to an ethos and structure for managing behaviour, which enables pupils to become independent and self-managing in the classroomessential
Ability, and commitment, to work effectively as part of the school team and with Local Academy Board members, trustees, pupils and their familiesessential
Experience of line managing a team of staff

Leadership

Ability to engage with families, assist them with problem-solving, advise them appropriately and advocate on their behalf if necessaryessential
Ability to prioritise an inclusion caseloadessential
Ability to integrate equality policies into actionessential
Ability, and commitment, to deliver a unified single SLT voice to all stakeholdersessential
Ability to independently take a lead role in all issues relating to child protection and safeguarding, including assessing what provision will be requiredessential
Evidence of different leadership and management roles in an educational context
Experience of leading inclusion and understanding a range of SEND needs
Demonstrable ability to manage change effectively

Personal Attributes

Ability to maintain confidentiality on all school mattersessential
Willingness to participate in further training and development opportunities offered by the school, Aurora Academies Trust and the countyessential
Flexibility in the approach to work and the demands of the post and to be adaptable to the changing circumstances of the schoolessential
A commitment to the school's vision, values, and ethosessential
A commitment to Aurora Academies Trust vision, values, and ethosessential

About Us

Heron Park Primary Academy is a vibrant and dynamic two-form entry primary school with a nursery, serving children aged 2–11 in the heart of the Eastbourne community. We are proud to be rated a ‘Good’ provider by Ofsted, and we are deeply committed to delivering exceptional educational experiences for every child in our care. 

At Heron Park, we believe that children flourish in a happy, supportive, safe, and purposeful learning environment. Our warm, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere ensures that all members of our community feel a strong sense of belonging—truly part of the Heron Park family. 

Our inspirational curriculum is thoughtfully designed to both challenge and excite our pupils, providing them with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-changing world. Every aspect of school life is underpinned by our five core values: 

  • Respect 
  • Curiosity 
  • Independence 
  • Resilience 
  • Aspiration 

These values guide our pupils as they grow into confident, capable individuals who demonstrate Quality, Excellence, and Passion in everything they do. 

Our vision is clear: to empower every child to reach their full potential. Through a rich and engaging educational journey, we aim to equip our pupils with the skills, knowledge, and mindset they need for a successful and fulfilling future. 


‘It’s really fun to do work at our school.  I really like the challenges and our school trips!  Our values make our school a safe place to learn. We follow them and have been taught about integrity which we show every day. 

Having worked at Heron Park for just over a year now, the thing that has really stood out for me is the incredibly strong ethic of teamwork that is evident throughout all aspects school life. All members of the school community work hard to support each other to achieve the best for the pupils in our care both in terms of fostering academic progress, but also in supporting them socially and emotionally. I have also found the clear pedagogical approaches and engaging curriculum to be a real strength of the school, and this is supported by an exciting range of trips, experiences and events across the year. CPD, both within our own school but also as part of the wider Aurora Academy Trust, is always responsive to the emerging needs of our pupils and staff, and as a result, I really feel that I have developed as a teacher over the course of the year that I have worked at Heron Park. All staff at Heron Park are dedicated, friendly and passionate about their roles, whatever they may be, and that has made being part of the team here a real pleasure.’  

Lee, Y5 teacher 


‘Working at Heron Park Primary Academy is honestly such a joy. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed and part of a team that genuinely cares—not just about the children, but about each other too. There’s a real sense of community here, and that makes a huge difference day to day. 

One of the things I love most is how our school values are lived out in everything we do. Our children are encouraged to be respectful, curious, independent, resilient, and aspirational, and it’s amazing to see them grow into those qualities. It makes teaching here feel really meaningful. 

We also have a broad and balanced curriculum that’s built around helping every child reach their full potential. The focus on Quality, Excellence, and Passion isn’t just for the pupils—it’s something we all strive for as staff too. 

Plus, being part of Aurora Academies Trust means there are great opportunities to develop and progress in your career. There’s always support, encouragement, and the chance to take on new challenges across the trust.’  

Nicholas, Y6 Teacher 


Heron Park Primary Academy

Emily Sturt

esturt@auroraacademies.org.uk

Dallington Road
Hampden Park
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN22 9EE

Safeguarding Information


Aurora Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references. Online searches will also be carried out on shortlisted candidates.


Aurora Academies Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.