Job Title: Teacher (SEND)
Job Location: Oakwood Specialist College, Dawlish, EX7 0DE
Salary: Between £27,300 and £33,600 per annum, based on 40 hours per week, 42.4 weeks of the year.
Contract Type: Permanent
Are you an experienced SEND Teacher looking for a rewarding new opportunity? We’re seeking a passionate educator to join our team, specifically working with pre-entry learners who have a range of PMLD/SLD needs. If you have prior experience in this area, you’ll be in the perfect position to deliver highly personalised, meaningful education to young adults with complex learning and communication needs.
You'll have the freedom to get creative and design engaging lessons that are tailored to each learner’s unique interests and abilities. Whether it’s incorporating hobbies or finding exciting new ways to make learning enjoyable, we want you to bring your creativity into the classroom. Our Post-16 Study Programme curriculum focuses on life skills, work experience, and core functional skills like Maths and English, all aimed at preparing learners for adulthood.
We invite you to visit our college and experience first-hand the fulfilling environment of teaching in a SEND setting. With small class sizes (5-7 learners), you'll have the chance to build strong, meaningful connections with your learners and adapt your teaching to their individual needs.
We provide ongoing training and support, providing you with all the tools you need to deliver the best possible educational experience. If you're ready to make a real difference in the lives of our learners and are excited about tailoring education to their individual needs, we want to hear from you.
A day in the life of a Teacher will involve:
- Leading classroom activities including planning, teaching, and assessing learning, particularly with ‘your’ class. This will involve a range of subjects and topics involved in pathways to adulthood and pastoral support.
- Monitoring and recording progress, both academically and against EHCP outcomes.
- Working closely with learners, keeping them engaged, motivated, and inspired to reach their full potential.
- Providing inspirational learning opportunities to learners, whether in the classroom or out in the community. You’ll work either 1:1 with learners or in small group settings to help them achieve their learning goals.
- Working closely with Learning Support Assistants to direct them to effectively support the learners.
- Being able to provide and develop a curriculum bespoke to each individual learner. You’ll need to be adaptable in your teaching style as some learners may focus on becoming more independent, while others aim to secure employment.
- Being able to recognise when a learners progress is at risk, and where we could improve. You’ll need to be committed to seeking to understand each young person and their needs.
To be a successful Teacher you’ll need:
- Patience, compassion, and resilience—All of the learners you’ll support will be neurodiverse, which may impact their learning behaviour and communication needs.
- Great communication skills – This is important in this role as you’ll be speaking to a lot of different people at different times, whether it be learners, parents, or other stakeholders. You’ll need to be able to contribute to a range of resources as well as share information effectively.
- To be able to be involved in EHCPs, and shaping a curriculum based on the individual target outcomes of your learners.
- To be flexible and adaptable. Not all days go to plan, you’ll need to be comfortable dealing with change.
- A genuine interest in a career focused on the education of people with a wide range of needs.
In return for your time, you’ll get:
- Holidays – You’ll work 42.4 weeks of the year during term time, but you’ll be paid annual leave to cover the remaining 9.6 weeks.
- Pension scheme– Our pension scheme is based on you paying in 5%, and us adding 3%.
- Learning & Development Opportunities – We provide comprehensive learning opportunities for team members to develop themselves.
- Discounts – You’ll have access to brilliant discounts through the Blue Light Card and our own employee benefits platform.
- Wellbeing Support – Your wellbeing is always our priority. You’ll have access to mental health and wellbeing support. On top of this, our therapies team offers a monthly confidential check in clinic, and group reflective practice sessions.
- Cycle2Work -The cycle to work scheme enables you to buy a bicycle at a discounted rate.
- DBS – As this role required you to have an enhanced DBS carried out, we will cover this cost.
- After 12 months service - You’ll be eligible for our Medicash scheme which covers a wide range of medical, health and wellbeing expenses (Including immediate access to a GP!). You’ll get life assurance paid at 2 x your annual salary, and even more high street discounts.
As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS, online and social media checks, and reference validation. Due to the nature of our work, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), so we may ask you to disclose any spent or unspent criminal convictions during recruitment. This disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, and we encourage transparency at the application stage.
At Phoenix Learning and Care, we are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment where all team members feel safe to be themselves without risk of discrimination. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation, and we strive to ensure everyone can contribute authentically and openly.