ELSA / Forest School Champion
Wildern School, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 4EJ18 days remaining to apply
Closing date
3 July 2025 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
12 June 2025
Job details
Job role
- Pastoral, health and welfare
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £26,818.00 Annually (FTE) Grade D – Step 1 Actual Annual Salary £23,001.60 (which is equivalent to a full time salary of £26,818), (based on 37 hours a week)
ELSA / Forest School Champion job summary
ELSA / Forest School Champion - 37 hours per week, Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 4.00pm and Friday 8.00am to 3.30pm, term time only (39 Weeks). Flexibility for less hours and start/finish times can be accommodated for the right candidate. Grade D – Step 1 Actual Annual Salary £23,001.60 (which is equivalent to a full time salary of £26,818), (based on 37 hours a week).
We are part of the RAISE Education Trust which comprises of Wildern School, Deer Park Secondary School and Boorley Park Primary School. Our staff form a collective team that make a difference to the lives of our students. This is an exciting time for the trust and all colleagues present and future. Wildern School, a thriving secondary school in Hedge End, is seeking an enthusiastic ELSA / Forest School Champion.
Are you passionate about emotional wellbeing, creative interventions, and the magic of the outdoors? Do you believe in nurturing the whole child and helping young people build resilience, confidence, and connection? If so, we would love to hear from you.
Wildern School is looking for a dedicated Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) with Forest School expertise (or willingness to undertake the training) to become a vital part of our pastoral team. This is a unique and rewarding role where you’ll work 1:1 and in small groups to support students' emotional development, whether that’s through a calming mindfulness session, a chat around a campfire, or structured interventions for anxiety, self-esteem, and more.
Responsibilities will include:
- Deliver high-quality ELSA sessions tailored to students' needs.
- Run engaging Forest School activities that promote resilience and wellbeing.
- Support students experiencing anxiety, friendship issues, bereavement, and more.
- Be a go-to adult offering kindness, structure, and strategies to thrive.
- Work closely with families, teaching staff, and external agencies.
- Help shape our whole-school wellbeing culture.
We are looking for someone who -
- Is ELSA trained.
- Brings Forest School experience and creativity to the table (or is willing to undergo the training).
- Understands the importance of emotional literacy and trauma-informed care.
- Can connect with students with warmth, empathy, and consistency.
- Is proactive, reliable, and professional in record-keeping and communication.
In return we offer -
- A supportive and passionate pastoral team.
- Ongoing supervision and CPD opportunities.
- Opportunities to help shape our wellbeing and inclusion vision.
- A school culture that genuinely values emotional development as much as academic progress.
Benefits of working in our trust include:
- Welcoming, supportive, friendly and sociable colleagues.
- A competitive salary and benefits package.
- Excellent Continuing Professional Development with high quality CPD program.
- The opportunity to work within a supportive and collaborative team.
- Ongoing training and development and opportunities for career progression.
- Free large on-site car park.
- Good transport links.
- Workplace Pension Scheme.
- An amazing rate for staff membership at our modern on-site Leisure Centre.
- A tax efficient Cycle-to-Work scheme through salary sacrifice.
Let’s make a difference—together.
Application Process:
To apply for this vacancy please Visit:
If you currently work in a school, please ensure one of your references is from your current Headteacher.
Please submit your application as soon as possible as we may invite candidates to interview before the closing date. Closing Date: Midday Thursday 3rd July 2025.
Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date if we receive applications that meet the criteria. Once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
RAISE Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Commitment to safeguarding
Wildern Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs are not accepted.
About Wildern School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1869 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Wildern School website
Wildern School is a popular, oversubscribed secondary school situated in the Southampton suburbs. We are a school with significant strength in the CPD of staff, developing our teachers for the next stage of their careers. All students and staff alike can take advantage of excellent facilities which include a lecture theatre, digital media suites, a recording studio, both PC and Mac Suites, community sports centre and access to a professional theatre.
We are part of the Wildern Academy Trust which comprises of Wildern School, Deer Park Secondary School and Boorley Park Primary School.
This is an exciting time for the trust and all colleagues joining us.
School location
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