Location: Plymouth
Start date: 1st September 2026
Type: temp-to-perm (60-day paid trial period)
Hours: Full-time (8:30am - 4:00pm, Monday to Friday)
Salary: MPS & UPS (experience dependent)
Our new special school for learners predominently in year groups 6-9 (ages 11-14) opens in September 2026 in a purpose built modern school building.
. We will be supporting up to 28 learners with a view to gradually increasing learner capacity in the future.
All of the learners we support are vulnerable and have an EHCP to define their additional needs or an EHCP in progress. The needs of the children mainly relate to Autism, ADHD, SEMH, Trauma & PDA. Creativity, perseverance and an empathetic approach when working our learners is key to engaging them in education and ensuring their future progression.
We are inviting applications for a highly experienced SEND Teacher to join our initial teaching team and inspire our learners. We're looking for applicants that can demonstrate good previous experience of haveing worked with SEND learners ideally in an SEND School setting. Previous experience is particularly important as the initial team will comprise 5 staff who will need to work autonomously.
For the SEND Teacher we're looking for an experienced and Fully Qualified Teacher (FQT) with UK QTS. ECTs cannot be considered for this particular role.
Our learners need enhanced support to develop their language & literacy skills. Often, our learners have missed significant periods of education so require an empathetic, patient approach with enjoyable & accesible lessons. Applicants best suited to this role will have previous experience of having worked with learners that have SEND (mainly SEMH & trauma) and have experienced other barriers or challenges to their education .
This role will involve:
Delivering an adapted curriculum across the school
Delivering high-quality lessons to all learners across the school
Ensuring that all activities are accessible to individual learners who, across the school, have a wide range of needs
Understanding and supporting the challenges of our learners
Motivating & inspiring our learners to engage & achieve
Providing practical resources & strategies for colleagues to use & integrate into other lessons
Helping to champion the work of our learners
We're building our next great team so if you love working with people who are dedicated to supporting young learners that strive to support their development in a positive setting, this is the role for you.
Every Child, Every Opportunity, The Right Opportunity
Our approach is to offer a bespoke and relevant learning program for each learner. Integration into standardised education opportunities and social integration is everything we do. No child should have their future negatively affected or be excluded in their later life due to the lack of access or support for education opportunities that are appropriate to their abilities & strengths.
We believe strongly in people and look for people that have:
Education-relevant qualifications in supporting teaching & learning
good experience in supporting young people in an education setting
understanding and expertise in supporting learners with SEND
skills & strategies in supporting emotional wellbeing
tenacity & resilience to manage, influence & effect positive behaviours & decisions in learners
the ability to present a strong role model for young people, including having fun!
collaborative and pro-active working practices
a strong sense of responsibility & work ethic
Working with our organisation is a rewarding experience. We offer an enjoyable workplace with additional employment benefits:
Bright HR - online HR management portal also offering partner discounts
Employee Assist - independent healthcare perks
Free training - role specific & relevant, accredited training
Employee Support Assistant - dedicated colleagues to support our employees
Pension scheme
company events
Application interview & engagement process
Essential Criteria: Maths & English at Grade C or grade 4 (minimum.) In certain circumstances, we can consider applicants willing to work towards (or already working towards) gaining these qualifications through functional skills (or equivalent) qualifications.
This role is not suitable for applicants:
not currently based within the UK
requiring employer sponsorship for UK right to work
without UK schools experience
without experience in the UK of supporting SEND
All applications will be managed by Elementa as the recruitment partner for this school. Successful applications will have a full-prescreen, interview, ‘insight session’ and visit to one of our Alternative Provision or SEND School sites. Elementa is committed to the safeguarding of children in all of their processes and all successful applicants will have a full prescreen to assess their suitability for the role. Any appointment will be subject to a successful interview process, satisfactory references, Safeguarding & Prevent training, DBS Enhanced Disclosure (which may be chargeable at £64.20 unless you have a DBS subscribed to the Update Service) and successful completion of (12 week / 60 paid day) employment trial period.
Please apply with your full up to date CV. All applicants will be promptly responded to
Salary description
£160.00 - £261.00 per day