Our colleagues’ wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we’re always looking for new ways to improve everyone’s work/life balance. We’re taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).
Job Title: SEN Teacher (Maternity Cover)
Underley Garden School, Kirkby Lonsdale, LA6 2DZ
00 per annum (DOE) + £1,000 Welcome Bonus**
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Fixed Term ending October 2026, Term Time Only
At Underley Garden School, part of the Outcomes First Group, we believe every child deserves the chance to flourish. As part of our continued growth, we are now offering an exciting opportunity for a qualified and passionate SEN Teacher to join our warm, supportive team on a maternity cover basis.
This isn’t your average teaching role. Our young people have autism, learning difficulties, and complex needs — and they deserve a teacher who sees their potential, understands their challenges, and knows how to unlock their strengths through creativity, innovation, and care.
As a dynamic and motivated SEN Teacher, you’ll have every opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of pupils with complex needs. Deliver creative and inclusive lessons across Key Stages 3–5.
Develop exciting teaching strategies that foster a love of learning.
Support pupils’ personal and emotional development as well as academic progress.
Work closely with a multidisciplinary team to meet individual EHCP targets.
Build strong, positive relationships with pupils, families, and professionals.
Contribute to the wider school life and continuous development of our provision.
We are looking for a passionate, dedicated teacher and an exceptional communicator — someone just as comfortable engaging with students with autism and complex needs as they are contributing to the school’s wider vision.
You will thrive in our close-knit, family-like school community and relish the opportunity to help each pupil reach their full potential through highly personalised learning.
UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent – essential.
Experience teaching children or young people with SEN, autism, or complex needs – desirable.
Creativity, adaptability, and resilience in a specialist teaching environment.
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting pupil welfare.
Underley Garden School is a large school with small class sizes, focusing on pupils, aged 5-19, who have a range of complex needs associated with autism and learning disabilities, including complex communication, sensory and behavioural needs associated with their disabilities.
Our School adopts a holistic, person-centred approach to the development of our pupils and endeavours to ensure that they achieve as high a standard as possible. We offer a comprehensive portfolio of education, care and therapy to meet the individual requirements of students with complex special educational needs.
For over 16 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. Why join Options Autism?
Life Assurance
~ Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
~“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
~ Travel Allowance - up to £450.00 depending upon distance travelled
~ A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
~100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
~ Cycle to Work Schemes
~ Electric Car Purchase Scheme
~ Critical illness cover
~ Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
Additional School Benefits
Gift Voucher at Christmas
BUPA Wellbeing Health Expenses including Employee Assistance Programme and Anytime Healthline
Team Building Days
And that’s not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
**Welcome Bonus is payable as one payment of £500 after completion of month three (3) and one further payment of £500 upon completion of your final probation period - month six (6) or later. Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.