Creative Arts Therapist

Post:                    Creative Arts Therapist

Responsible to:      Head Teachers

Post Title:                          Creative Arts therapist 

Position Status:                 Full-Time

Contractual Hours:          2 days per week - days to be discussed

Contractual Weeks:           Term Time (39 weeks per year)

Salary:                                LSEAT H26  - H30

Post Start Date:                  Sept 2026 or as sooner if possible

Closing Date:                      Monday 1st June

Welcome to Aspire Academy

We are a small, specialist primary school in Bexley, providing a nurturing and supportive environment for children aged 5–11 with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

Aspire Academy is a unique and rewarding school to work in where no two days are ever the same!

We recognise that every child is unique, which is why we take a holistic approach to their education and wellbeing. Our dedicated team works closely with families and supporting agencies to help pupils develop confidence and essential life skills. Through high quality teaching and learning, therapeutic interventions and a focus on personal development, we support every child to progress successfully onto the next stage of their education and their lives.

We are proud to be rated Good by Ofsted, with Outstanding recognition for Behaviour and Attitudes, as well as Personal Development. This reflects our commitment to ensuring every child is encouraged and inspired - enabling them to reach their full potential.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Creative Arts Therapist will deliver targeted therapeutic interventions to pupils with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and a range of additional Special Educational Needs (SEN).

The role will support pupils to develop emotional regulation, communication and resilience through creative therapeutic approaches, while contributing to whole‑school SEMH understanding, data analysis and collaborative planning with staff, parents and senior leaders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE JOB HOLDER:

Therapeutic Intervention and Direct Work

• Deliver individual and small‑group creative arts therapy interventions tailored to pupils’ SEMH and SEN needs.
• Use creative modalities (e.g. art, play, movement, storytelling) to support:
  • Emotional regulation
  • Expression of feelings
  • Trauma processing
  • Social skills and self‑esteem
• Adapt therapeutic approaches to meet the developmental and emotional needs of primary‑aged pupils.
• Review and evaluate interventions to ensure they are purposeful and impactful.

SEMH Data, Monitoring and Reporting

• Work closely with SLT to support the analysis of SEMH and mental health data at individual and whole‑school level.
• Contribute to:
  • Individual pupil profiles
  • SEMH tracking
  • Therapeutic impact reviews
• Provide clear written and verbal feedback to staff and SLT on pupil progress and therapeutic outcomes.
• Feed into reports for professionals, meetings and reviews for individual children (e.g. EHCP reviews, inclusion meetings).

Liaison with Parents and Carers

• Liaise sensitively and professionally with parents and carers, sharing appropriate information about therapeutic support and progress.
• Attend and contribute to meetings with parents as required.
• Support parents’ understanding of children’s mental health and SEMH needs, signposting where appropriate.

Working with Staff and the Wider School Team

• Collaborate with teachers, support staff and behaviour teams to ensure therapy is well‑integrated into school life.
• Provide professional insight to staff to support their understanding of pupils’ emotional needs.
• Contribute to multi‑disciplinary meetings, working alongside internal and external professionals where appropriate.

Staff Development and Whole‑School Mental Health Awareness

• Plan and deliver staff meetings and training sessions to:
  • Promote awareness of creative therapies
  • Develop understanding of mental health and SEMH needs
  • Support trauma‑informed practice across the school
• Contribute to the school’s wider wellbeing and inclusion culture.

Therapeutic Environment

• Create, maintain and manage a welcoming, safe and therapeutic space for pupils.
• Ensure therapy resources are well organised, accessible and appropriate to pupils’ needs.
• Maintain confidentiality and safeguarding standards at all times.

Professional Responsibilities

• Be an active member of the school community, contributing positively to its ethos and values.
• Attend supervision, CPD and relevant meetings as required.
• Work within professional ethical guidelines and school policies.
• Uphold safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection requirements.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role.

General:

• The school will provide regular line-management, peer supervision and subsidise external supervision
• To work across the Academy as directed by the Senior Leadership Team.
• To promote a high level of safeguarding understanding for all pupils.
• To carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with AspireAcademy policies and relevant to health and safety guidance and legislation.
• To participate in performance management and undertake training and professional development as appropriate.
• To undertake other duties appropriate to the post that may reasonably be required by SLT.
• To ensure that all services within the areas of responsibility are provided in accordance with Aspire Academy’s commitment to high quality provision.
• At all times carry out the responsibilities of the post with regard to Aspire Academy Equal opportunity policies.
• Attend school-based meetings and complete relevant administrative tasks.
• Be physically fit and prepared to undertake positive handling training with all staff as required by the SLT.
• Be prepared to use, and support other staff, using positive handling techniques as a last resort in conflict management.

Visits to the school are strongly encouraged.

For further information or to book a visit please contact Head Teachers heather.hopkins@aspire.lseat.org.uk  or [email protected] 

The scope of this profile reflects the needs of the Academy at the present time; it is not intended to be a fully inclusive or exhaustive list. The post holder may therefore be expected to work flexibly and perform such other duties other than those given in the job description.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. The profile will be subject to continuous review as the needs and requirements of the Academy change over time.

About Us

About the Trust

London South East Academies Trust is a growing and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision academies, alongside an outreach service and a music hub. Our schools are located across Bromley, Bexley, Sussex, Lambeth and Surrey, serving a wide range of communities and educational contexts.

Across the Trust, our schools share a strong commitment to raising attainment, encouraging aspiration and supporting social mobility for every pupil, throughout their educational journey and beyond. We take a holistic but personalised approach to education, recognising that children thrive when their individual strengths, needs and circumstances are properly understood and supported. This enables pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential, whatever their starting point.

We believe that great schools are built by great people. As a Trust, we invest in our staff through strong professional development and leadership opportunities, clear expectations and supportive structures. We actively encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, supported by high-quality, cost-effective central services that allow leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for pupils.

London South East Academies Trust sits within the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also includes a multi-campus further and higher education college, London South East Colleges and a charitable foundation, Elevare Education Foundation. This unique structure provides meaningful progression pathways for pupils and families, as well as broad development and career opportunities for staff across the wider Group.

Our teams are united by a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. By continuing to grow our Trust and welcoming new expertise and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our schools further and extend the positive impact we have on our communities.

Equal Opportunities

London South East Academies Trust is fully committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you have accessibility needs or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know.

Please note that if a suitable applicant is identified, we may close the advert before the published closing date.

If you have any specific queries about the role, please contact us at [email protected].

As the Trust supports children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self-disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to make a full disclosure or to provide sight of a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. The Trust’s DBS policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders is available on request.

All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.