Job Description

Aurora White House School

Norfolk
Expiring soon

Salary:

Salary: 12.99 - 13.49 per hour (23,210.52 - 24,103.92 actual salary per year) Dependant on experience and qualifications

Job type:

Full Time, Permanent

Apply by:

4 July 2025

Job overview

----------------

Play Practitioner

Location:

Aurora Eccles and White House Schools, Quidenham, Norwich, NR16 2NZ

Salary:

12.99 - 13.49 per hour (23,210.52 - 24,103.92 actual salary per year) Dependant on experience and qualifications

Hours:

40 hours per week, Term time only

Aurora Eccles and White House Schools

We're seeking to recruit a dedicated

Play Practitioner

to join our multidisciplinary team in a SEN school. In this role, you'll use play-based approaches to support children with additional needs enhancing their learning, social development, and emotional well-being. Working collaboratively with teachers, therapists, and support staff, you'll help create an inclusive environment where children can develop through both structured and free play activities. You'll play a key role in implementing targeted interventions under the direction of our Play Therapist, supporting individual students, small groups, and classes as needed.


Part of the Aurora Group, Aurora Eccles and White House Schools in Quidenham, Norwich provides day placements for students aged 6 to 16 years primarily with communication and interaction difficulties or specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Some may be on the autistic spectrum or have anxieties and difficulties that create barriers to learning.


With small classes, typically 7 children and a minimum of 3 staff per class you can focus on the needs of each student. There is a full clinical team onsite to support at all times and you will have the support of an experienced and stable SLT.


If you're passionate about supporting children with additional needs through play-based learning, we'd welcome your application.

Key Accountabilities:

Caseload Management & Service Delivery

Work under supervision of the Play Therapist to manage an assigned caseload of students within Aurora Eccles and Aurora White House Schools Collaborate with Play Therapist(s), Therapy Leads, Clinical Lead and Senior Leadership Team to ensure efficient workload management and effective service delivery Liaise with Therapy Assistants, Therapists and Emotional Literacy Practitioners (ELSAs) to ensure appropriate caseload management and skills sharing Prioritise caseload under direction of Play Therapist to ensure equitable service delivery

Assessment & Intervention

Support the Play Therapist with student assessments and interventions as directed Provide direct and indirect play therapy interventions for individuals and groups Plan and facilitate engaging play sessions that support learning, social interaction, and sensory needs Adapt play activities to suit children with diverse needs, including Autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech language and communication needs, and sensory needs Measure intervention outcomes against EHCP and Annual Review targets Record progress and outcomes using school systems (e.g. Earwig)


Please note that duties will vary and you will be expected to contribute to the overall aims of the schools when required. Please see the link below for our full job description:


- Play Practitioner

Qualifications - Essential

Level 3 qualification in play work, early years, or related field Certificate or diploma in play therapy/therapeutic play e.g. Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills; PTUK / BAPT Practitioner of Play Skills Qualification or similar Evidence of supervision received from approved and accredited Play Therapist

Knowledge - Essential

Evidence of Continuing Professional Development Understanding of attachment theory and trauma-informed practice Knowledge of SEN and working within SEN education settings Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Conditions, ADHD, and SEMH difficulties Commitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk and to upholding safe working practices, working in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of all Understanding of play-based learning and child development.

Experience - Essential

Experience of working as a play practitioner or similar Experience of exercising clinical responsibility for clients' emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentiality Experience of multi-disciplinary team and multi-agency working Experience working with children with SEN in an educational, therapeutic, or childcare setting.

Skills - Essential

Ability to build constructive relationships with warmth, empathy, patience and tact using good communication skills Fluent in written and spoken English with the ability to communicate complex information in a clear manner to a range of audiences including students, parents, and professionals Ability to keep legible and accurate notes in line with professional record keeping requirements under the direction and supervision of the Play Therapist. Ability to implement integrated intervention plans, under the direction and supervision of the Play Therapist Good IT skills for administration, presentations, recording and reporting systems Ability to identify difficulties in practice and to seek and use supervision constructively


Due to the rural location of the school, candidates are strongly advised to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.



Be part of our successful team and also benefit from a generous package that includes:

Life assurance Enhanced pension scheme Free lunch when working Perkbox - offering high street discounts Employee assistance programme Car lease scheme and Bike to work scheme Fully funded training and qualifications Free membership to our Health cash back plan Family Swim

How to apply:

Please complete an online application form in full. If you need any assistance please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at Liz.hudson@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.

About

Aurora White House School

---------------------------------------

Aurora White House School

Quidenham Road, Attleborough
Norfolk
NR16 2NZ
United Kingdom

+44 1953 887217###

Specialist academic and therapeutic provision in a caring, supportive environment, for children aged 5-11 who have experienced difficulties in mainstream settings.

Take a virtual tour: https://mpembed.com/show/?m=bsBmgxyXMz8&mpu=863&&qs=1&play=1&hl=1

Welcome to our Special Needs Primary School in Quidenham, Norfolk

Welcome to Aurora White House, a unique learning environment that has the friendly and personal feel of a small village primary school, whilst also being rich in specialist provision.



I believe that having a sense of belonging is essential in helping children to thrive. It is for this reason that 'community' is central to our school's vision and identity.



As part of our community, your child will benefit from small class sizes, specialist teaching and a multi-disciplinary approach that helps remove barriers to learning.



Children want to be at this school.



Time and again we see those with previously poor attendance records coming in every day, making friends, and having fun - which tells me whatever it is we're doing, we're getting it right.



I'm so glad you've found us, and I look forward to welcoming you and your child into our community here at Aurora White House.

David Clarke, Headteacher

Our School

Aurora White House provides a

positive, welcoming learning environment

for children aged 6-11 (Y1 - Y6) who have experienced difficulties in mainstream settings.



Our

specialist teaching staff

cater for the full age range of primary pupils, from reception through to older children who are ready to transition to secondary school.



With

small class sizes

, a fantastic sense of community and exceptional standards of teaching and therapeutic support, our school is designed to promote academic achievement alongside comprehensive physical, social and emotional development.

Personalised learning

We offer

personalised learning

to every child, delivered both in class and within additional small-group or individual intervention sessions as required.



Our

mixed-year group

classes mean that children learn with peers of similar presentation, allowing for learning environments to be better matched to individual needs.



Our bespoke

'Creativity & Curiosity Curriculum'

employs a flexible model based around the foundation subjects in the National Curriculum.

Integrated therapy

Discrete therapeutic interventions

at Aurora White House are delivered by a highly skilled team of clinical staff, whose specialisms include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, educational psychology and play/art therapy.



These interventions sit alongside a classroom experience which integrates therapeutic approaches on a

one-to-one, small group and whole class basis.

Promoting wellbeing

We place great importance on helping children learn how to manage their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

'Thrive'

principles and strategies are embedded across the school to encourage social and emotional development. This approach emphasises the importance of positive adult relationships, and makes use of various

arts and play-based activities.

All our children have access to an

indoor swimming pool,

a well-stocked

library

and a choice of

break-out areas,

as well as extensive outdoor recreation facilities including a large playing field, a

tree house

and an abundance of

magnificent woodland.

This woodland is used throughout the year for our

Forest School

program. Under the supervision of fully qualified practitioners, children in Forest school sessions are provided with opportunities to play, explore and create across the seasons and in all weathers.

Raising expectations

We value the

unique contribution

each individual can make in society and are committed to helping every child fulfil their potential.



We combine this ambition with a

positive approach

to behaviour management, encouraging the development of a strong sense of identity while promoting

effective interaction

with others.



By raising individual expectations, we

empower children

to make meaningful choices at every stage of their lives.

Our Facilities

Set in 34 acres of stunning Norfolk countryside, our school offers pupils access to a range of outdoor sport and recreation facilities.


Specialist facilities to support therapeutic interventions. Breakout areas for quiet time Extensive outdoor recreation areas Bespoke adventure play area and tree house Indoor swimming pool Forest School activities set in magnificent woodland

Proud to be a Forest School

Forest School is centred around the child, their needs and their interests.



Under the supervision of fully qualified practitioners, children are provided with opportunities to play, explore and create across the seasons and in all weathers.



Every child enjoys a tailored journey within Forest School through a combination of:


story-telling conservation learning about wildlife identifying different plants arts and crafts shelter-building

Our Curriculum

Our bespoke 'Creativity & Curiosity Curriculum' employs a flexible model based around the foundation subjects in the National Curriculum.



Each child's experience will be different, with all learning tailored to individual needs.



We also dedicate a lot of time to helping pupils develop essential life skills, including:


Communication and interaction Health and wellbeing management Understanding identity and relationships Understanding society and the wider world

Our classes are usually mixed-year groups, so children learn with peers of similar presentation.

Our Outcomes

We are proud to list evidence of the progress and performance of our pupils (for the previous academic year) below:


100% of our children have improved attendance records when joining us with many of them going on to achieve 100% attendance. 100% of children who receive literacy intervention make above expected progress and are narrowing the gap to their peers. 100% of children who have been with us for more than a term make progress in their THRIVE developmental stage, which helps support learning in all areas. Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools follow

Tes' Fair Recruitment Policy

.