DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Salary: OHACT Outer London, Grade E, SP – 25 20, Actual Salary: £26,678.00 - £29,099.61 (FTE £31,155.00 - £33,983.00) (Negotiated on appointment, depending on experience and qualifications)
Location: Dysart School, 190 Ewell Road, KT6 6HL
Working Pattern: 36 hours a week, term time only
Dysart School is an Outstanding special school in Kingston, providing education for pupils aged 4 to 19 with a range of severe and complex learning difficulties.
To help meet the growing demand for high-quality SEN provision in the borough, Dysart also operates three satellite sites located alongside local mainstream schools - creating inclusive opportunities and expanding access to specialist support.
Its main site, located in Surbiton, is bright and well equipped to support the development of its pupils, including Early Years classrooms with outdoor learning spaces, an onsite work-related learning kitchen, an accessible swimming pool, sensory room, soft play and adventure play areas, and clearly defined outside spaces that support pupils’ learning and self-regulation.
Dysart School is a progressive and innovative place to work and staff are offered opportunities through regular training and support to develop their own practice.
Dysart takes a person-centred, relational approach grounded in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). Practice across the school focuses on understanding behaviour as communication and creating environments that support engagement, participation, relationships and quality of life, rather than relying on reactive or compliance-based approaches.
A core part of this work is the Connections Team. The Connections Team works alongside pupils, class teams and families to provide proactive, preventative and relational support, building capacity and consistency across school and home, promoting inclusive, joined-up working that reduces stress and supports positive outcomes.
We are seeking an Active Support Practitioner - to sit within our Connections team - to support the development of high-quality, person-centred practice across Dysart School through the implementation of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Active Support. The Active Support Practitioner will work directly within classrooms to coach, model and embed practice that supports pupils to be actively engaged, participate, communicate and make choices in their daily learning.
Key Responsibilities:
•Support the implementation of Active Support and PBS informed practice across the school, ensuring consistent, high quality practice across classrooms.
•Act as a key practitioner within the Connections Team, supporting the embedding of PBSPs and person-centred approaches into everyday classroom practice.
•Influence staff practice through modelling, coaching and respectful professional challenge, supporting a shift towards a PBS-informed approach focused on engagement, communication and participation.
•Contribute to staff development through training, discussion and reflective practice within classes, across the school and, where appropriate, across the academy trust.
•Support consistency of practice across classes, identifying strengths, themes and areas for development.
Key Requirements:
•Secure understanding of SEND needs and development
•Experience supporting pupils with complex needs to increase engagement, participation and independence within a school environment
•Experience/knowledge of PBS-informed or person-centred practice within a school setting
•Experience supporting and modelling best practice for staff
•Experience working with pupils with communication differences, supporting interaction, engagement and participation
•Understanding of safeguarding, equal opportunities and relevant legislation, aligned with PBS values of dignity and respect
•Working knowledge of health and safety procedures, supporting safe and least-restrictive practice in line with PBS principles
•GCSE grade 9–4 (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
•Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
•Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
•Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
•Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
•Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
•Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work – visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust:
Dysart School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
To ensure a fair opportunity for all applicants, candidates who have applied for this position in the past 6 months will not be considered.
Closing Date: Sunday 31 May 2026
Interviews will take place on: week commencing 15 June 2026
To help us manage applications effectively, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient suitable applications are received.
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.